any plant of a South African genus (Mesembryanthemum) of succulent-leaved prostrate or erect plants widely grown in gardens and greenhouses: family Aizoaceae
fig marigold, ice plant, Livingstone daisy
Word origin
C18: New Latin, from Greek mesēmbria noon + anthemon flower
mesembryanthemum in American English
(mɛsˌɛmbriˈænθəməm; mɛzˌɛmbriˈænθməm)
noun
1.
fig marigold
2. US
any of a large group of fleshy, succulent plants of the carpetweed family, sometimes grown for ornament in warm climates; esp., any of several species of a genus (Carpobrotus) growing wild in California
Word origin
ModL < Gr mesēmbria, midday (< mesos, mid1 + hēmera, day) + anthemon, flower < anthos, flower: see antho-