Dichondra carolinensis

Dichondra carolinensis
Photo taken by Gil Nelson
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class:	Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Order:	Solanales
Family:	Convolvulaceae
Genus:	Dichondra
Species:	D. carolinensis
Binomial name
Dichondra carolinensis Michx.
Natural range of Dichondra carolinensis from USDA NRCS Plants Database.

Common name: Carolina ponysfoot

Taxonomic notes

Synonym: Dichondra repens J.R. Forster var. carolinensis (Michaux) Choisy;

Description

Dichondra carolinensis is a perennial herbaceous species with a ruderal growing habit.

For D. carolinensis, they are a "prostrate, spreading or matted, pubescent perennial, rooting at the nodes. Leaves suborbicular to reniform, mostly 1-3 cm wide, sparsely pubescent beneath; petioles 1-4 cm long. Flowers small, axillary, solitary; sepals 2-3 mm long at anthesis, the outer surface pilose; corolla white, rotate-campanulate exceeded by the calyx; pistil of 2 nearly separate carpels, stigmas capitate, styles separate. Capsule 2-lobed, each lobe usually 1-seeded." - Radford et al 1964.

Ecology

Habitat

This species prefers dry loamy sand and high light levels (FSU Herbarium). It occurs in several natural communities, including pine-oak woods and savanna (FSU Herbarium). However, it also tends to be a ruderal species, appearing in disturbed habitat like mowed lawns and roadsides (FSU Herbarium).

Associated species include Viola primulifolia, Cerastium Linaria, Oxalis(FSU Herbarium).

Phenology

This species has been observed flowering and fruiting in March (FSU Herbarium).

Fire ecology

D. carolinensis has been found in annually burned savanna, so it has some fire tolerance (FSU Herbarium).

References and notes

Florida State University Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium database. URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: June 2014. Collectors: Loran C. Anderson, R. K. Godfrey, Lisa Keppner, Walter Kittredge, and R. Komarek. States and Counties: Florida: Gadsden, Leon, Liberty, Taylor, and Washington. Georgia: Grady.

Radford, Albert E., Harry E. Ahles, and C. Ritchie Bell. Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas. 1964, 1968. The University of North Carolina Press. 861. Print.