Carpetweed
June 5, 2015
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EmailMollugo verticillata L. Molluginaceae (Carpetweed family)
Life cycle
Prostrate, mat-forming summer annual.
Carpetweed plant.
Leaves
Whorled, smooth, light green leaves (up to eight per node) are spatula-shaped to oblong with a rounded tip and tapered to the base.
Stems
Smooth, prostrate stems with prolific branches form light green, circular mats.
Flowers and fruit
Small, white to greenish white flowers on slender stalks occur in clusters of up to five in the leaf axils. Fruit are small, three-parted, egg-shaped capsules that contain orange-red to orange-brown, glossy, kidney-shaped seeds.
Carpetwood flowers and fruit (right). Carpetweed flower (left).
Reproduction
Seeds.
Carpetweed seedling.
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