Attila Kapitany's garden, Melbourne

[derrick.rowe]

Both Carpobrotus species found in New Zealand are introduced. They are C. edulis (South African) that has 15 cm yellow flowers while C. chilensis (South American) has 10 cm beautiful purple flowers. Both species hybridise freely with each other to create hybrid swarms. They also cross with Disphyma australe subsp australe our native species that has been isolated so long from other mesembs that it has lost an ability to remain sexually pure. Although hybrid disphymas are reputedly sterile, I suspect this is no longer the case.