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 nodiflorum, synonymously known as Cryophytum cleistum, Cryophytum gibbosum, Cryophytum nodiflorum, Cryophytum rogersii, Gasoul nodiflorum, Mesembryanthemum caducum, Mesembryanthemum copticum, Mesembryanthemum inornatum, Mesembryanthemum paucandrum, Psilocaulon caducum or Stigmatocarpum caducum and commonly known as Slenderleaf Iceplant is native to coastal areas of the Mediterranean Basin, Macaronesia, and Middle East. Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum is usually an annual herb, forming a mostly prostrate clump or mat of stems up to a maximum of about 20 centimetres in length. The small stem branches are lined with knob-like cylindrical fleshy leaves up to 2 centimetres long. The herbage is green to bright red and visibly bumpy with shiny, bubble-like papillae. Flowers are solitary or borne in loose clusters. Each is about half a centimetre wide with many narrow to thready white or pink petals. The fruit is a capsule which opens when it becomes wet, releasing seeds.