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- Molluginaceae
- Mollugo
- Mollugo verticillata
Mollugo verticillata — green carpetweed
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Facts
This species is of interest to plant biochemists because it possesses an unusual photosynthetic anatomy intermediate between the two forms of photosynthesis (referred to as C3 and C4). This mildly weedy plant often pops up in pavement cracks or scrambles over the ground to form mats or "carpets." Tiny white flowers are produced from summer through early fall.
Habitat
Anthropogenic (man-made or disturbed habitats)
New England distribution
Adapted from BONAP data
Native: indigenous.
Non-native: introduced (intentionally or unintentionally); has become naturalized.
County documented: documented to exist in the county by evidence (herbarium specimen, photograph). Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
State documented: documented to exist in the state, but not documented to a county within the state. Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
Note: when native and non-native populations both exist in a county, only native status is shown on the map.
Found this plant? Take a photo and post a sighting.
Characteristics
- Habitat
- terrestrial
- New England state
-
- Connecticut
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Flower petal color
- NA
- Leaf type
- the leaves are simple (lobed or unlobed but not separated into leaflets)
- Leaf arrangement
- whorled: there are three or more leaves per node along the stem
- Leaf blade edges
- the edge of the leaf blade is entire (has no teeth or lobes)
- Flower symmetry
- there are two or more ways to evenly divide the flower (the flower is radially symmetrical)
- Number of sepals, petals or tepals
- there are five petals, sepals, or tepals in the flower
- Fusion of sepals and petals
- both the petals and sepals are separate and not fused
- Stamen number
-
- 3
- 4
- 5
- Stem nodes swollen
- the stem is swollen at the nodes
- Fruit type (general)
- the fruit is dry and splits open when ripe
- Fruit length
- 2.5–3 mm
-
Clonal plantlets
- Bulbils
- the plant does not appear to have bulbils
- Bulblets replace flowers
- there are no bulblets where the flowers are located
-
Flowers
- Anther color
- the anthers show no hint of a pink, reddish or purplish tint
- Anther opening
- the anthers have narrow slits or furrows that run lengthwise along the anthers
- Anther spurs
- the anthers do not have spurs on them
- Calyx growth after flowering
- the calyx does not grow to cover or partially cover the fruit
- Calyx symmetry
- there are two or more ways to evenly divide the calyx (the calyx is radially symmetrical)
- Carpel hairs
- the carpels have no hairs
- Carpels fused
- the carpels are fused to one another
- Cilia on petals
- NA
- Cleistogamous flowers
- there are no cleistogamous flowers on the plan
- Corolla morphology
- NA
- Corolla palate
- no
- Corona lobe length
- 0 mm
- Epicalyx
- the flower does not have an epicalyx
- Epicalyx number of parts
- 0
- Filament surface
- the filament is smooth, with no hairs or scales
- Flower appearance
- the flowers appear after the leaves have appeared
- Flower description
- the flower has a superior ovary, and lacks a hypanthium
- Flower diameter
- 4–5 mm
- Flower orientation
- the flower points upwards or is angled outwards
- Flower petal color
- NA
- Flower reproductive parts
- the flower has both pollen- and seed-producing parts
- Flower symmetry
- there are two or more ways to evenly divide the flower (the flower is radially symmetrical)
- Flowers sunken into stem
- no
- Form of style
- the flower has two or more completely separate styles
- Fringed petal edges
- NA
- Fusion of sepals and petals
- both the petals and sepals are separate and not fused
- Hairs on flower stalk
- the flower stalk has no hairs on it
- Hairs on inflorescence
- the axis of the inflorescence has no hairs on it
- Horns in hoods (Asclepias)
- NA
- Hypanthium
- the flower does not have a hypanthium
- Hypanthium length
- 0 mm
- Inflorescence one-sided
- the flowers are arrayed in a spiral around the inflorescence axis or branches, or occur singly, or in several ranks
- Inner tepals (Rumex)
- NA
- Length of flower stalk
- 2–8 mm
- Marks on petals
-
- NA
- there are no noticeable marks on the petals
- Nectar spur
- the flower has no nectar spurs
- Number of branches in umbel
- 2–8
- Number of carpels
- 3–5
- Number of pistils
- 1
- Number of sepals, petals or tepals
- there are five petals, sepals, or tepals in the flower
- Number of styles
- 3–5
- Ovary position
- the ovary is above the point of petal and/or sepal attachment
- Perianth shape
-
- the perianth is cupuliform (cup-shaped)
- the perianth is rotate (platter-shaped, the corolla flattened, circular, with nearly horizontally spreading lobes)
- Petal and sepal arrangement
- the flower includes only one cycle of petals or sepals
- Petal and sepal colors
- white
- Petal appearance
- NA
- Petal base
- NA
- Petal folding in bud
- NA
- Petal folds or pleats
- the petals of the flower do not have folds or plaits
- Petal glandular dots or scales
- NA
- Petal hairs (Viola)
- NA
- Petal hairs on inner/upper surface
- NA
- Petal length
- 0 mm
- Petal length relative to sepals
- NA
- Petal nectaries
- NA
- Petal number
- 0
- Petal shape
- NA
- Petal tip shape
- NA
- Petal tips (Cuscuta)
- NA
- Petal width
- 0 mm
- Raceme attachment (Veronica)
- NA
- Reproductive system
- all the flowers have both carpels and stamens (synoecious)
- Scales inside corolla
- NA
- Sepal and petal color
-
- NA
- the petals and sepals are similar
- Sepal appearance
-
- the sepals are green or brown, and leaf-like in texture
- the sepals resemble petals in color and texture
- Sepal appendages
- the sepals do not have appendages on them
- Sepal appendages (Oenothera)
- NA
- Sepal auricles
- the sepals have no auricles
- Sepal cilia
- the sepals do not have cilia
- Sepal color
- green to brown
- Sepal features
- one or more sepals are arched and enfolding, hood-shaped
- Sepal length
- 1.5–2.5 mm
- Sepal number
- 5
- Sepal orientation
-
- the sepals are pressed against the corolla, or jutting stiffly upward
- the sepals are slightly curved outwards from the corolla
- Sepal relative length
- NA
- Sepal shape
-
- the sepal outline is eliiptic (widest near the middle and tapering at both ends)
- the sepal outline is oblong (rectangular, but with rounded ends)
- Sepal texture
-
- the sepals are either very thin but flexible, like a membrane, or they are leaf-like in texture
- the sepals are thin and dry, paperlike
- Sepal tip shape
-
- the sepal tip is obtuse (is bluntly pointed)
- the sepal tip is rounded
- Sepal uniformity
- all the sepals are about the same size
- Sepals fused only to sepals
- the sepals are separate from one another
- Spur length
- 0 mm
- Spur number
- NA
- Stamen attachment
-
- NA
- the stamens are not attached to the petals or tepals
- Stamen lengths differ
- the stamens are all approximately the same length
- Stamen morphology
- the stamens within each cycle are the same
- Stamen number
-
- 3
- 4
- 5
- Stamen relative length
- anything
- Stamens fused
- the stamens are attached to one another at or near their bases
- Stigma position
- the stigmas are positioned at the tip of the style
- Style length
- Up to 0.4 mm
- Style petal-like
- the styles are not petal-like
- Style relative length
- NA
- Surface of ovary
-
- the ovary surface has no points, bumps or wrinkles
- the ovary surface is textured with tiny points, bumps or wrinkles
- Umbel flower reproductive parts
- NA
- Upper lip of bilabiate corolla
- NA
-
Fruits or seeds
- Achene relative orientation
- NA
- Achene shape
- NA
- Achene surface (Polygonum)
- NA
- Achene type
- NA
- Berry color
- NA
- Capsule color (Viola)
- NA
- Capsule ribs
- the capsule has no prominent ribs or wings
- Capsule splitting
-
- the capsule splits by five main valves, teeth or pores
- the capsule splits by four main valves, teeth or pores
- the capsule splits by three main valves, teeth or pores
- Fruit (pyxis) dehiscence
- NA
- Fruit beak length
- 0 mm
- Fruit cross-section
- the fruit is another shape in cross-section
- Fruit features (Brassicaceae)
- NA
- Fruit length
- 2.5–3 mm
- Fruit length relative to sepals
-
- the fruit is about the same length as its associated sepals
- the fruit is longer than its associated sepals
- Fruit locules
-
- five
- four
- three
- Fruit shape
-
- the fruit is ellipsoid (widest in the middle and tapering to each end)
- the fruit is ovoid (egg-shaped)
- the fruit is spherical
- Fruit stalk orientation
-
- the fruits curve or droop downwards
- the fruits point upward or spread or curve outward
- Fruit type (general)
- the fruit is dry and splits open when ripe
- Fruit type (specific)
- the fruit is a capsule (splits along two or more seams, apical teeth or pores when dry, to release two or more seeds)
- Fruit width
- 1.4–2.2 mm
- Legumes (Fabaceae)
- NA
- Mericarp length
- 0 mm
- Mericarp segment shape (Desmodium)
- NA
- Other markings on berry
- NA
- Ovary stipe
- the ovary or fruit does not have a stipe
- Ovary stipe length
- 0 mm
- Placenta arrangement
- the plant has axile placentation, in which the ovules are attached where the septa of a compound ovary are united, usually on the central axis, or to the septa themselves
- Rows of seeds in fruit (Brassicaceae)
- NA
- Schizocarpic fruit compression
- NA
- Schizocarpic fruit segments
- 0
- Seed length
- 0.5–0.6 mm
- Seed number
- 15–35
- Seed relative length
-
- the seed is about as long as it is wide
- the seed is longer than it is wide
- Seed surface
-
- the seed has parallel ridges on it (ribbed)
- the seed has tubercles on it (swellings or projections of a different color or texture than the seed)
- the seed is covered with short, round or cylindrical projections (papillae)
- the seed is smooth or without clear markings
- Seeds comose
- no hairs
- Septum in fruit (Brassicaceae)
- NA
- Wings on fruit
- the fruit does not have wings on it
- prickles on fruits
- the fruits do not have thorn-like defensive structures
-
Glands or sap
- Glands on leaf blade
- the leaf blades do not have glandular dots or scales
- Sap
- the sap is clear and watery
- Sap color
- the sap is clear
-
Growth form
- Growth form
- the plant is an herb (it has self-supporting stems)
- Horizontal rooting stem
- the plant does not have stolons
- Lifespan
- the plant lives only a single year or less
- Parasitism
- the plant is not parasitic
- Plant color
- the leaves or young stems of the plant are green
- Plants darken when dry
- no
- Spines on plant
- the plant has no spines
- Underground organs
-
- there are only slender roots on the plant
- there is a thickened taproot on the plant
-
Leaves
- Bracteole edges
- NA
- Bracteole length
- 0 mm
- Bracteole number (Apiaceae)
- 0
- Bracteole shape
- NA
- Bracteoles
- there are no bracteoles on the plant
- Bracts in plantain (Plantago)
- NA
- Final leaf segment length (compound lvs only)
- 0 mm
- Final leaf segment length to width ratio (compound lvs only)
- 0
- Final leaf segment width (compound lvs only)
- 0 mm
- Floral bract texture
- the floral bracts are green, with a leaf-like texture
- Floral bracts
- the flower has one or more bracts associated with it
- Hairs on leaf stalk
- the petiole has no hairs on it
- Hairs on underside of leaf
- the underside of the leaf is not hairy, or it has very few hairs
- Hairs on upper side of leaf
- the upper side of the leaf is not hairy, or it has very few hairs
- Hooked hairs on underside of leaf
- NA
- Inflated hairs on leaf
- the leaf blade does not have inflated hairs on it
- Leaf arrangement
- whorled: there are three or more leaves per node along the stem
- Leaf blade base
-
- the leaf has a distinct leaf stalk (petiole)
- the leaf has no stalk
- Leaf blade base shape
- the base of the leaf blade is cuneate (wedge-shaped, tapers to the base with relatively straight, converging edges), or narrow
- Leaf blade base symmetry
- the leaf blade base is symmetrical
- Leaf blade bloom
- the underside of the leaf has no noticeable bloom
- Leaf blade edges
- the edge of the leaf blade is entire (has no teeth or lobes)
- Leaf blade flatness
- the leaf is flat (planar) at the edges
- Leaf blade hairs
- NA
- Leaf blade length
- 5–40 mm
- Leaf blade primary vein pattern
- the secondary veins branch off at intervals from the primary vein
- Leaf blade shape
-
- the leaf blade is elliptic (widest near the middle and tapering at both ends)
- the leaf blade is linear (very narrow with more or less parallel sides)
- the leaf blade is oblanceolate (lance-shaped, but with the widest point above the middle of the leaf blade)
- the leaf blade is obovate (egg-shaped, but with the widest point above the middle of the leaf blade)
- the leaf blade is spatulate (spoon-shaped; narrow near the base, then suddenly widening to a rounded tip)
- Leaf blade surface colors
- the upper side of the leaf blade is relatively uniform in color
- Leaf blade texture
- the leaf blade is herbaceous (has a leafy texture)
- Leaf blade veins
- the leaf blade has one main vein running from the base towards the tip (it may or may not have secondary veins)
- Leaf blade width
- 0.5–15 mm
- Leaf duration
- the leaves drop off in winter (or they whither but persist on the plant)
- Leaf form
- the leaves are green, with an expanded blade and a leaf-like texture
- Leaf hair orientation
- NA
- Leaf sheath length
- 0 mm
- Leaf shiny
- the upper side of the leaf is dull or slightly shiny
- Leaf spines
- there are no spines on the leaf edges
- Leaf stalk
-
- the leaves have leaf stalks
- the leaves have no leaf stalks, but attach directly to the stem
- Leaf stalk attachment to leaf
-
- NA
- the petiole attaches at the basal margin of the leaf blade
- Leaf stalk base
- the petiole base is narrow where it attaches to the stem
- Leaf stalk length
- 0.5–4 mm
- Leaf teeth and lobes
- the edge of the leaf blade is entire (has no teeth or lobes)
- Leaf tip
-
- the tip of the leaf blade is acute (sharply pointed)
- the tip of the leaf blade is obtuse (bluntly pointed)
- the tip of the leaf blade is rounded, with no point
- Leaf type
- the leaves are simple (lobed or unlobed but not separated into leaflets)
- Leaf types
- There is a gradual change in appearance of the leaves from the base (or near the base) of the plant to those from further up on the stem, with leaves progressively changing as one moves higher on the stem (often becoming shorter, or less toothed/lobed, and/or with shorter petioles).
- Leaf variation
- the leaves are nearly similar in size, prominence of teeth, and length of stalks throughout the stem
- Leaflet number
- 0
- Leaflet petiolules
- NA
- Leaves per node
-
- there are five leaves per node along the stem
- there are four leaves per node along the stem
- there are seven or more leaves per node along the stem
- there are six leaves per node along the stem
- there are three leaves per node along the stem
- Pinnately compound leaf type
- NA
- Specific leaf type
- the leaves are simple (lobed or unlobed but not separated into leaflets)
- Stipels
- NA
- Stipule features
- NA
- Stipule fused to leaf stalk
-
- NA
- the stipules are not fused to the petioles
- Stipule length
- At least 0 mm
- Stipules
-
- the plant has stipules
- there are no stipules on the plant
- Teeth per side of leaf blade
- 0
-
Place
- Habitat
- terrestrial
- New England state
-
- Connecticut
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Specific habitat
- man-made or disturbed habitats
-
Scent
- Plant odor
- the plant does not have much of a smell
-
Stem, shoot, branch
- Branched tendrils
- NA
- Direction of stem hairs
- NA
- Hair between stem nodes
- the stem has no hairs between the nodes
- Hairs between stem nodes
- the stem has no hairs between the nodes
- Hooked hairs on stem between nodes
- NA
- Leaves on stem
- there is at least one full leaf above the base of the flowering stem
- Length of hairs between stem nodes
- 0 mm
- Plant height
- 3–45 cm
- Stem bloom
- there is no powdery or waxy film on the stem
- Stem hair distribution
- NA
- Stem nodes swollen
- the stem is swollen at the nodes
- Stem orientation
-
- the stems are upright or angled outwards
- the stems trail at the base, but may turn upwards at the tips
- Stem spacing
- the plant is growing in tufts, or compact clusters with closely spaced stems, or it is densely matted together in clumps, cushionlike
- Stem succulence
- the stems are not succulent
- Tendril origin
- NA
- Tendrils
- the plant does not have tendrils
- Wings on stem
- the stem does not have wings on it
Wetland status
Occurs in wetlands or non-wetlands. (Wetland indicator code: FAC)
In New England
Distribution
- Connecticut
- present
- Maine
- present
- Massachusetts
- present
- New Hampshire
- present
- Rhode Island
- present
- Vermont
- present
Conservation status
Exact status definitions can vary from state to state. For details, please check with your state.
- Massachusetts
- unranked (S-rank: SNR)
From Flora Novae Angliae dichotomous key
1. Mollugo verticillata L. E
green carpetweed. CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT. Roadsides, yards and lots, gardens, waste areas, cracks in pavement and concrete.
Native to North America?
No
Sometimes confused with
- Galium asprellum:
- flowers with 4 petals and fruit splitting into 2 spherical parts (vs. M. verticillata, with flowers with 5 petals and fruit opening by 5 valves).