Family: Molluginaceae
Author: (L.) Aug.DC.
Bibliography: Bull. Herb. Boissier, sér. 2, 1: 559 (1901)
Year: 1901
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Glinus
Vegetable: False
Observations: Trop. & Subtrop. Old World
Description
Slender carpetweed, scientifically known as Glinus oppositifolius, is a fascinating species belonging to the family Molluginaceae. This small yet resilient plant is primarily found in tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World, indicating its adaptability to warm climates. The slender carpetweed often thrives in open, sunny areas, spreading out across the ground to form a dense, low-lying mat.
The significance of Glinus oppositifolius extends beyond its prevalence in the natural landscape; it has been documented in scientific literature dating back to 1901, when it was described in the Bulletin de l’Herbier Boissier by eminent botanist L. Aug.DC. The historical context of this plant highlights its long-standing recognition and the importance of its role in both ecological and botanical studies.
Characterized by its opposite leaves and delicate structure, the slender carpetweed is not just an example of botanical beauty but also an indicator of the rich biodiversity found in the regions it inhabits. Its ability to cover the ground effectively helps in preventing soil erosion, thus playing a crucial role in maintaining the health of the ecosystem.
Common Names
Eng: slender carpetweed
En: Slender carpetweed
Synonyms
- Pharnaceum oppositifolium ((L.) Spreng.)
- Mollugo oppositifolia (L.)
Distribution
- Aldabra (native)
- Angola (native)
- Assam (native)
- Bangladesh (native)
- Benin (native)
- Borneo (native)
- Botswana (native)
- Burkina (native)
- Burundi (native)
- Cambodia (native)
- Cameroon (native)
- Cape Provinces (native)
- Chad (native)
- China Southeast (native)
- Comoros (native)
- Congo (native)
- Ethiopia (native)
- Free State (native)
- Gabon (native)
- Ghana (native)
- Guinea (native)
- Guinea-Bissau (native)
- Hainan (native)
- India (native)
- Ivory Coast (native)
- Jawa (native)
- Kenya (native)
- KwaZulu-Natal (native)
- Laos (native)
- Lesser Sunda Is. (native)
- Liberia (native)
- Madagascar (native)
- Malawi (native)
- Malaya (native)
- Mali (native)
- Maluku (native)
- Mauritania (native)
- Mozambique (native)
- Myanmar (native)
- Namibia (native)
- Nepal (native)
- New Guinea (native)
- New South Wales (native)
- Niger (native)
- Nigeria (native)
- Northern Provinces (native)
- Northern Territory (native)
- Philippines (native)
- Queensland (native)
- Rwanda (native)
- Senegal (native)
- Seychelles (native)
- Sierra Leone (native)
- Somalia (native)
- South Australia (native)
- South China Sea (native)
- Sri Lanka (native)
- Sudan (native)
- Sulawesi (native)
- Sumatera (native)
- Swaziland (native)
- Taiwan (native)
- Tanzania (native)
- Thailand (native)
- Togo (native)
- Victoria (native)
- Vietnam (native)
- Western Australia (native)
- Zambia (native)
- Zaïre (native)
- Zimbabwe (native)
- Baleares (introduced)
- Mauritius (introduced)
- Réunion (introduced)
Additional Images
Flower
Taken May 4, 2021 by Orca The Killer Whale Narwhal (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 6, 2021 by Emmanuel ferre (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken May 4, 2021 by Orca The Killer Whale Narwhal (cc-by-sa)
Leaf
Taken May 4, 2021 by Orca The Killer Whale Narwhal (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 6, 2021 by Emmanuel ferre (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Apr 6, 2021 by Emmanuel ferre (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 6, 2021 by Emmanuel ferre (cc-by-sa)
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:361968-1)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/7548362)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Glinus oppositifolius (L.) Aug.DC.)
