Dichondra
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Dichondra is a small genus of flowering plants in the family Convolvulaceae. They are prostrate perennial herbaceous plants, with creeping stems which take root readily at the leaf nodes. The flowers are white, greenish or yellowish, 2-3 mm diameter.
The number of species is disputed, with some authors dividing the genus regionally into about ten separate species, while others accept only two species. Both the species listed below are native to tropical and warm temperate regions around the world.
- Species
- Dichondra micrantha Urb.
- Dichondra repens J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.
[edit] Cultivation and uses
Dichondra micrantha was very popular in southern California in the 1950s and 1960s as a grass substitute for lawns. Each "grass" leaf consists of a stem with a nearly circular or kidney-shaped horizontal leaf top, between 8-25 mm in diameter with a 20-35 mm petiole. A healthy lawn consisting entirely of Dichondra is fairly difficult to start, grow and maintain. In some parts of the United States Dichondra is considered a weed.
[edit] References
- Germplasm Resources Information Network: Dichondra
- Flora of China: Dichondra
- Australian Plant Name Index: Dichondra
