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carpetweed
Scientific Name: Mollugo
Family: Molluginaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth:
Duration:
Other Names:
Carpetweed: A Mat-Forming Annual
Carpetweed, scientifically known as Mollugo verticillata, is a common broadleaf annual weed found in lawns and gardens. It's also known by several common names, including Indian Chickweed, Whorled Chickweed, and Devil's Grip.
Considerations for Children
- Carpetweed forms a low-growing mat, which might be appealing to young children.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Mollugo verticillata L.
- Common Names: Carpetweed, Green Carpetweed, Indian Chickweed, Whorled Chickweed, Devil's Grip
- Family: Molluginaceae (Carpetweed family) or sometimes classified under Aizoaceae.
- Genus: Mollugo
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to tropical America.
- Commonly found in eastern North America.
- Grows in moist sandy or coarse soils, gardens, row crops, waste places, and along railways and roadsides.
- Prefers moist places where shrubs, trees, and lawns meet.
- Observed at Lost Creek Lake in Jackson County, southwestern Oregon.
- Found throughout Ontario, Canada.
Ecological Role
- Rapidly spreading annual plant.
- Can quickly cover large patches of ground.
- Considered a weed in various environments, including ornamental beds, gardens, and waste areas.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- Summer annual.
- Prostrate growth habit, forming circular mats.
- Stems are smooth and branching.
- Grows into a circular mat close to the ground.
- Reaches up to 5 inches in height.
- Has a short taproot.
- Leaves are light green and lanceolate.
- Flowers from June to August.
- Flowers are small (0.5 cm), pale green to whitish, and clustered on short stalks (5-15mm) from the leaf axils.
- Flowers have 5 sepals, white above and greenish below, lacking petals.
Life Cycle
- Seeds germinate in late spring.
- Seeds lie dormant over the winter and sprout slowly in the spring.
- Full grown by mid-spring through fall.
- Reproduces by seed.
- Late-germinating.
Further Information
- University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service Horticulture Weed Identification.
- Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension.