Dichondra carolinensis

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Dichondra carolinensis
Dichondra carolinensis Gil.jpg
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.
DICH CARO dist.jpg
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.[1]

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." [2]

Distribution

Ecology

Habitat

This species prefers dry loamy sand and high light levels. It occurs in several natural communities, including pine-oak woods and savanna. However, it also tends to be a ruderal species, appearing in disturbed habitat like mowed lawns and roadsides.[1]

Associated species include Viola primulifolia, Cerastium Linaria, Oxalis.[1]

Phenology

This species has been observed flowering January to May with peak inflorescence in February and has been observed fruiting in March.[1][3]

Fire ecology

D. carolinensis has been found in annually burned savanna, so it has some fire tolerance.[1]

Conservation and management

Cultivation and restoration

Photo Gallery

References and notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Nelson, G. PanFlora: Plant data for the eastern United States with emphasis on the Southeastern Coastal Plains, Florida, and the Florida Panhandle. www.gilnelson.com/PanFlora/ Accessed: 8 DEC 2016