Mesembryanthemum cryptanthum in Algeria: Succulent Rare and Adapted

Taxonomy:

Kingdom:	Plantae
Phylum:	Tracheophytes
Class:	Angiosperms
Class:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Aizoaceae
Genus:	Mesembryanthemum
Species:	M.cryptanthum

Mesembryanthemum cryptanthum is a small but resilient succulent annual that thrives in Algeria’s more challenging desert and semi-arid zones. While it may not have the showy flowers or large size of more familiar plants, its adaptations to shallow, saline or gravelly soils make it a key player in Algerian desert plant communities and a contributor to native Algerian flora and biodiversity

Introduction

Mesembryanthemum cryptanthum is a modest yet fascinating succulent herb of the family Aizoaceae, well adapted to arid and semi-arid landscapes. Though often overlooked, it plays a subtle role in Algeria’s native flora, especially within desert pastures and saline flats. As part of the Algerian wild plants, native Algerian flora, and Algerian plant biodiversity, it deserves attention for both botanical interest and conservation.

Synonym:

Aizoon theurkauffii

Mesembryanthemum forsskalii

Mesembryanthemum gaussenii

Mesembryanthemum theurkauffii

Opophyton forsskalii

Opophytum cryptanthum

Opophytum theurkauffii

How to identify it?

Mesembryanthemum cryptanthum is an annual plant belonging to the family Aizoaceae , evergreen, papillary greenish-reddish plant depending on the season and precipitation, also known as baby finger plant. Its leaves are cylindrical in shape, branched at the base. Leaves are green, red, orange, and have axillary flowers that are white or white with yellow. Can grow in climates Mediterranean and Algerian desert blooms in February and June after rains in the desert.

Growth form: Succulent annual herb, decumbent or erect up to ~25 cm tall, but often prostrate when in flower.

Leaves: Succulent, cylindrical or sub-terete (sometimes nearly cylindrical), up to ~50 mm long and ~15 mm diameter in some populations. Smooth surface.

Flowers: Small, often white or creamy‐yellow staminoids/tepals, though less showy than many ornamental succulents.

Fruit/capsule: 5-locular capsule with valve wings sometimes reflexed/fused, typical of Mesembryanthemum species.

Habitat cues: Occurs in arid, dry shrubland or desert soils; look for surfaces with sandy or gravelly soil, often shallow. Presence of succulent annual flora is a clue.

Type Of Plant	Life Cycle	Height	Flowering Time	Altitude
Herbaceous	Perennial/Annual	0.50 m	After the rains	900 m

Mediterranean	Edible	Color	Abundance	Toxicity
Yes	Unknown	White	Common	No

Other Common Name:

Arabic	Berber/Targui	English	French	Other Name
Swabaa ghoula		Babies’ toes,ice plant		Blood finger

Algerian Distribution and Where to Find It

According to the accepted distribution for M. cryptanthum, its native range includes Algeria (among others: Libya, Namibia, Angola, etc.)

However, exact locations within Algeria are less frequently published in accessible literature. The species is indicated for Northern Africa and desert/shrubland biomes.

Field inference: In Algeria you would likely find it in arid-steppe zones, saline flats, shallow gravelly or sandy soils, possibly in zones of the Sahara or southern Tell where soil is sparse, saline or seasonally wet.

Since precise GPS coordinates weren’t found in my search for Algeria specifically, I recommend exploration in western Algeria desert margins, e.g., near Béchar, Tindouf, or other arid zones with succulent vegetation.