''Dichondra'' is a small genus of
flowering plants in the
morning glory family,
Convolvulaceae. They are prostrate,
perennial,
herbaceous
Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials.
Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous"
The fourth edition of t ...
plants, with creeping stems which take root readily at the leaf nodes. The
flowers are white, greenish or yellowish, 2–3 mm diameter. Members of the genus are commonly known as ponysfoots
and are native to tropical and cool temperate regions around the world.
Taxonomy
Etymology
The genus name is derived from the
Greek words δίς (''dis''), meaning "two", and χόνδρος (''chondros''), meaning "grain". It refers to the fruits.
Species
The number of species is disputed, with some authorities accepting only two species. The following species are recognised in the genus ''Dichondra'' by the International Plant Names Index (IPNI):
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Dichondra argentea
''Dichondra argentea'', the silver ponysfoot or silver nickel vine, is a species of flowering plant in the family Convolvulaceae. It is disjunctly distributed in New Mexico, Texas, Mexico, Colombia, Bolivia, northwest Argentina, and southeast Br ...
''
Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd. – silver dichondra — Mexico, Texas.
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Dichondra brachypoda
''Dichondra'' is a small genus of flowering plants in the morning glory 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 ...
''
Wooton & Standl. – New Mexico ponysfoot
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Dichondra brevifolia
''Dichondra'' is a small genus of flowering plants in the morning glory 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 ...
''
Buchanan
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Dichondra carolinensis
''Dichondra carolinensis'', commonly known as Carolina ponysfoot, is a small herbaceous plant native to Bermuda and the south-eastern United States.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q17398186
Convolvulaceae
Groundcovers ...
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Michx. – Carolina ponysfoot
*''Dichondra donelliana''
Tharp & M.C.Johnst. – California ponysfoot
*''Dichondra evolvulacea''
(L.f.) Britton
*''Dichondra macrocalyx''
Meisn.
*''Dichondra micrantha''
Urb. – Asian ponysfoot
*''Dichondra microcalyx''
Carl Meissner, Meisn. – "Oreja de ratón — South America
*''Dichondra nivea''
(Brandegee) Tharp & M.C.Johnst.
*''Dichondra occidentalis''
House – western dichondra — Southern California coast.
*''Dichondra parvifolia''
Meisn.
*''Dichondra recurvata''
Tharp & M.C.Johnst. – oakwoods ponysfoot
*''Dichondra repens''
J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. — kidney weed
*''Dichondra sericea''
Sw. – silverleaf ponysfoot
Cultivation and uses
Some ''Dichondra'' species are cultivated as ornamental plants, with cultivar selections also available. ''Dichondra micrantha'' is used as a groundcover. ''Dichondra argentea'' is a light silver leaved accent plant. The ''Dichondra argentea'' 'Silver Falls' cultivar is often used for trailing over the rims of potted plants, and has lower water needs.
Missouri Botanical Garden horticultural treatment: ''Dichondra argentea'' 'Silver Falls'
/ref>
''Dichondra micrantha'' was very popular in Southern California in the 1950s and 1960s as a grass substitute for lawns. Each 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. Neighbors' Bermuda grass often seeded in, with ''Oxalis'' sp. and other weeds.
In some habitats and landscapes of the United States, some of the non-native ''Dichondra'' species are treated as weeds.
References
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External links
USDA PLANTS Database: ''Dichondra''Jepson Manual treatment for ''DICHONDRA''Flora of China: ''Dichondra''
{{Taxonbar, from=Q140232
Convolvulaceae
Convolvulaceae genera
Groundcovers