Home > Facts > Plants Facts > Pigface Facts

Pigface Facts

Pigface Facts
Pigface is succulent plant that belongs to the family of stone plants. It originates from South Africa, but it can be found in Australia, New Zealand, USA, Europe and French Polynesia today. Pigface grows in temperate and sub-tropical regions. It prefers coastal areas, open woodlands, sandy pastures, cliffs, areas near the roads and estuaries. Pigface is classified as invasive in Australia, California and Mediterranean region where it forms dense mats on the pastures, dunes and coasts and prevents growth of native plant species. Pigface is cultivated as ornamental plant in some parts of the world.
Interesting Pigface Facts:
Pigface has trailing, fleshy stem that can reach 12 inches in height and 6.5 feet in length.
Pigface produces numerous shallow adventitious roots from the nodes on the stems.
Pigface has elongated, succulent leaves without petioles (they are directly attached to the stem). Leaves are smooth and triangular in shape. They can be dark or pale green colored (with a tinge of red color) and oppositely arranged on the stem.
Pigface produces large, daisy-like yellow or pink flowers. 120 to 130 petal-like structures are actually modified stamens (male reproductive organs). True petals are fleshy and fused at the base. They surround ovary.
Flowers of pigface grow on top of the lateral branches. They contain 400 to 600 stamens (male reproductive organs) arranged in 6 to 7 rows and 8 to 10 styles (female reproductive organs).
Pigface blooms from late summer to the winter. Big, showy flowers attract bees that are responsible for the pollination of this plant.
Fruit of pigface is roundish capsule filled with numerous miniature seed. Fruit is fleshy, yellowish or purple-reddish colored when it is fully ripe.
Pigface propagates via seed and through division of the stem.
Scientific name of the pigface is "Carpobrotus". It means "edible fruit" in Greek language ("karpos" - fruit, "brota" - edible).
Fruit of pigface, also known as "sour fig" is edible. It can be consumed fresh or in the form of jam.
Pigface represents important source of food for the animals in Africa. Tortoises like to eat leaves, baboons and antelopes like to eat flowers and fruit, while rodents and porcupines consume fruit. Animals eliminate undigested seed via feces and facilitate spreading of pigface in the wild.
Cape cobras and puff adders hide and wait their prey in dense clumps of pigface, while lizards and skinks use pigface as shelter.
Juice extracted from the leaves of pigface can be used as first aid after jellyfish stings, mosquito bites and sunburns. It can be also used in treatment of diarrhea, abdominal cramps, sore throat and bacterial infections in the mouth. Fruit can be used as laxative (to facilitate emptying of bowel).
Pigface tolerates fire and drought and it is often cultivated as groundcover or in the pots and rockeries.
Pigface is perennial plant (lifespan: more than 2 years).


Related Links:
Facts
Plants Facts
Animals Facts