Workshops: Workshop Thumbnail View

Register

Side-by-Side Top-Bottom
Actual Image

Pink Suns: Carpobrotus edulis (30)
Silke Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 727 W: 98 N: 1694] (5406)
The cliffs at Boscombe Beach were covered with these fleshy-leaved plants whose roots undoubtedly help to anchor the fragile sandy soil.

My heartfelt thanks to Jose Rodriguez (jmp) for providing me with an ID here.

This Carpobrotus edulis (also known as the Hottentot Fig and the Highway Iceplant) has naturalized itself in the UK. Its dense mat of roots act as a soil stabilizer and the tiny fruits are edible, so it seems like a very "friendly" fellow! However, it is not entirely benign. Because it forms a very dense mat of roots, it can also edge out more native species and lower biodiversity and it appears to increase soil salinity (which is fortunately not a problem alongside the ocean as here).

A longer view is in the WS so you can see how they fill up the cliff-side as well as another PoV that allows you to see the sunny heart of the flower.

Many thanks for looking and for your assistance in this!

Altered Image #2

Silke Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 727 W: 98 N: 1694] (5406)
Alternate view
Edited by:Silke Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 727 W: 98 N: 1694] (5406)

Here you can see more of the sunny yellow heart of the flower

Altered Image #1

Silke Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 727 W: 98 N: 1694] (5406)
flower location
Edited by:Silke Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 727 W: 98 N: 1694] (5406)

Here is a more distant shot of the flowers and their location, showing how they create a dense mat over the soil.