Mesembryanthemum is a genus of flowering plants in the family Aizoaceae; like many members of this family, it is characterized by long-lasting flower heads. Flowers of Mesembryanthemum protect their gametes from night-time dews or frosts but open in sunlight. There is an obvious evolutionary advantage to doing this; where sun, dew, frost, wind or predators are likely to damage exposed reproductive organs, closing may be advantageous during times when flowers are unlikely to attract pollinators. It is indigenous to southern Africa. Many Mesembryanthemum species are known as ice plants because of the glistening globular bladder cells covering their stems, fruit and leaves,”… they sparkle like ice crystals”. In South Africa, Mesembryanthemums are known as “vygies” (from Afrikaans “vy”), although this term refers to many plants in the family Aizoaceae. Many succulent growers refer to them as mesembs. Species formerly placed in Mesembryanthemum have been transferred to other genera, such as Cleretum, Carpobrotus and Sceletium, although sources differ.

Mesembryanthemum crystallinum is a 10 centimetre tall mesemb succulent. It has a spreading to sprawling habit and grows best in full sun and well-drained soil. The plant looks dewy with glistening silvery papillae on the leaves. It has yellow-white flowers. The seeds of Mesembryanthemum crystallinum are best sown during autumn. Each leaf pair will produce one solitary bright daisy-like flower during autumn. This flower is usually white or yellow in colour, about 25 mm in diameter, and appears in the fissure of the leaf pair. They open late in the day and close up again at dusk and could be pollinated by any number of bees, flies, wasps, gnats, bugs etc. that are common in the area.