Succulent perennial with trailing stems up to 2metres long, rooting at the nodes.  Robust, triangular fleshy leaves, sabre shaped, 9cm long and 15-20mm thick. Brilliant, glossy magenta to dark pink flowers are 12cm across and open in the sunlight.

Fruits are semi-globose when ripe; seeds are small and numerous, embedded in a gelatinous pulp which acquires a sour taste when fruits ripen. Fruits are gatherred just before the rind hardens, the rind is removed and contents boiled into a jam. When eaten in quantity in the half-ripe state and taken with brackish water the fruits act as a powerful laxative.

The leaf juice is antiseptic and traditionally gargled to treat mouth ulcers and throat infections, and traditionally applied externally to treat excema, wounds, burns and bluebottle stings.

The long stems and spreading branches root freely at intervals making the plants an excellent sand binder.

Greek: carpos = fruit, brota = edible things; referring to the edible fruit of this genus.