Green carpetweed (Mollugo verticillata, Sp. Pl.: 89 (1753))

Family: Molluginaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 89 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Mollugo

Vegetable: False

Observations: America, Angola to Cape Prov.

Description

Green carpetweed (Mollugo verticillata) is a widespread and adaptable plant species known for its low-growing, mat-forming habit. First described in the seminal botanical work “Species Plantarum” in 1753 by the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus (often cited simply as L.), this resilient plant has since been observed in diverse geographic regions ranging from the Americas to parts of Africa, including Angola and Cape Province.

Belonging to the family Molluginaceae, green carpetweed thrives in a variety of soil types and climates, which contributes to its presence across different continents. The plant’s growth pattern typically involves sprawling stems that can root at the nodes, forming dense carpets, which make it an excellent ground cover species. Its leaves are small, whorled, and succulent-like, arranged in groups around the stem, enhancing its distinctive appearance.

Green carpetweed is often found in disturbed sites, agricultural fields, and gardens, where it can sometimes act as a weed due to its rapid spreading ability. Despite this, it plays a valuable role in ground cover and erosion control in certain settings. The small, white, star-shaped flowers of Mollugo verticillata are another identifying feature, blooming in clusters and adding a subtle charm to its green foliage.

Overall, green carpetweed is a notable species both for its botanical history and its ecological versatility. Whether appreciated for its hardiness in planting areas or managed due to its weedy nature in others, Mollugo verticillata is a fascinating plant with a broad ecological footprint.

Common Names

Eng: carpet-weed, carpetweed, green carpet-weed, green carpetweed, indian chickweed, common carpetweed, indian carpetweed, whorled carpetweed
Ita: mollugo verticillata
Spa: alfombra
Hun: csillagszegfűfaj
Swe: kransört
Fra: mollugine, mollugine verticillée, mollugo verticillé
En: Green carpetweed, Carpetweed, Indian chickweed, Carpet-weed, Green carpet-weed, Indian carpetweed, Common carpetweed, Whorled carpetweed
Zh: Zhong leng su mi cao, 光葉栗米草
Fi: Kiehkuramattio
Fr: Mollugine, Mollugine verticillée, Mollugo verticillé
Hu: Csillagszegfűfaj
It: Mollugo verticillata
Es: Alfombra, Anisillo
Sv: Kransört
Zh-tw: 光葉粟米草

Synonyms

• Mollugo chevalieri (Hutch. & Dalziel)
• Pharnaceum hoffmannseggianum (Schult.)
• Mollugo verticillata var. latifolia (Fenzl)
• Mollugo diffusa (Willd. ex Steud.)
• Pharnaceum verticillatum ((L.) Spreng.)
• Mollugo spergulifolia (Willd. ex Steud.)
• Mollugo arenaria (Kunth)
• Mollugo costata (Y.T.Chang & Wei)
• Mollugo axillaris (Schltdl. ex Rohrb.)
• Pharnaceum lineare (Bertero ex Rohrb.)
• Mollugo hoffmannseggiana (Ser.)
• Pharnaceum galioides (Willd. ex Schult.)
• Pharnaceum berteroanum (Spreng.)
• Pharnaceum arenarium ((Kunth) Spreng.)
• Mollugo verticillata var. vulgaris (Cambess.)
• Mollugo schrankii (Ser.)
• Mollugo berteroana (Ser.)
• Mollugo juncea (Fenzl)
• Mollugo verticillata var. linearis (Fenzl)
• Mollugo verticillata var. longifolia (Cambess.)
• Mollugo verticillata var. scrobiculata (Cambess.)
• Mollugo verticillata subsp. subsessile (Beauverd & Felipp.)
• Mollugo dichotoma (Schrank)

Distribution

• Alabama (native)
• Angola (native)
• Argentina Northeast (native)
• Argentina Northwest (native)
• Argentina South (native)
• Arizona (native)
• Arkansas (native)
• Aruba (native)
• Belize (native)
• Bolivia (native)
• Brazil North (native)
• Brazil Northeast (native)
• Brazil South (native)
• Brazil Southeast (native)
• Brazil West-Central (native)
• British Columbia (native)
• California (native)
• Cape Provinces (native)
• Colombia (native)
• Colorado (native)
• Connecticut (native)
• Costa Rica (native)
• Cuba (native)
• Delaware (native)
• District of Columbia (native)
• Dominican Republic (native)
• Ecuador (native)
• El Salvador (native)
• Florida (native)
• French Guiana (native)
• Georgia (native)
• Guatemala (native)
• Guyana (native)
• Haiti (native)
• Honduras (native)
• Idaho (native)
• Illinois (native)
• Indiana (native)
• Iowa (native)
• Kansas (native)
• Kentucky (native)
• Leeward Is. (native)
• Louisiana (native)
• Maine (native)
• Manitoba (native)
• Maryland (native)
• Masachusettes (native)
• Mexico Central (native)
• Mexico Northeast (native)
• Mexico Northwest (native)
• Mexico Southeast (native)
• Mexico Southwest (native)
• Michigan (native)
• Minnesota (native)
• Mississippi (native)
• Missouri (native)
• Montana (native)
• Nebraska (native)
• Netherlands Antilles (native)
• Nevada (native)
• New Brunswick (native)
• New Hampshire (native)
• New Jersey (native)
• New Mexico (native)
• New York (native)
• Nicaragua (native)
• North Carolina (native)
• North Dakota (native)
• Nova Scotia (native)
• Ohio (native)
• Oklahoma (native)
• Ontario (native)
• Oregon (native)
• Panamá (native)
• Paraguay (native)
• Pennsylvania (native)
• Peru (native)
• Puerto Rico (native)
• Rhode I. (native)
• South Carolina (native)
• South Dakota (native)
• Suriname (native)
• Tennessee (native)
• Texas (native)
• Trinidad-Tobago (native)
• Uruguay (native)
• Venezuela (native)
• Venezuelan Antilles (native)
• Vermont (native)
• Virginia (native)
• Washington (native)
• West Virginia (native)
• Wisconsin (native)
• Wyoming (native)
• Ascension (introduced)
• Azores (introduced)
• Benin (introduced)
• Cape Verde (introduced)
• Central African Repu (introduced)
• China North-Central (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Czechoslovakia (introduced)
• Hainan (introduced)
• India (introduced)
• Italy (introduced)
• Ivory Coast (introduced)
• Japan (introduced)
• Korea (introduced)
• Mali (introduced)
• Mexican Pacific Is. (introduced)
• Nansei-shoto (introduced)
• Portugal (introduced)
• Senegal (introduced)
• Sierra Leone (introduced)
• South China Sea (introduced)
• Spain (introduced)
• Taiwan (introduced)

Additional Images

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Habit

Taken Jun 27, 2015 by EOL − Sam Kieschnick (cc-by-nc)

Taken Jul 24, 2015 by EOL − James Mickley (cc-by-nc)

Taken Jul 8, 2015 by EOL − Sam Kieschnick (cc-by-nc)

Taken Aug 13, 2015 by EOL − Jim Varnum (cc-by-nc)

Taken Jun 16, 2022 by William Coville (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Jul 16, 2017 by Tela Botanica − _ (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 16, 2020 by Lindsey Marchman (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 1, 2022 by Roderick Sparnicht (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 11, 2021 by Sergio Spaziano (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 11, 2021 by Sergio Spaziano (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Dec 25, 2021 by Re.ag Re.ag (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 20, 2015 by EOL − Jim Varnum (cc-by-nc)

Taken Nov 26, 2008 by EOL − Keir Morse (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Nov 26, 2008 by EOL − Keir Morse (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Jul 16, 2017 by Tela Botanica − _ (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Sep 15, 2009 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Sep 15, 2009 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Sep 15, 2009 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Sep 15, 2009 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Sep 15, 2009 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Bark

Taken Sep 15, 2009 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Jul 16, 2017 by Tela Botanica − _ (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Apr 17, 2019 by OTS – J. González (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Apr 17, 2019 by OTS – J. González (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Apr 17, 2019 by OTS – J. González (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Sep 15, 2009 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Apr 17, 2019 by OTS – O. Vargas (cc-by-nc-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3084611)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:280992-2)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Mollugo verticillata L.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth