Dichondra
{{Short description|Genus of flowering plants}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| image = Dichondra_micratha.jpg
| image_caption = Dichondra micrantha
| taxon = Dichondra
| authority = J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.{{cite web |url=http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/genus.pl?3610 |title=Genus: Dichondra J. R. Forst. & G. Forst. |work=Germplasm Resources Information Network |publisher=United States Department of Agriculture |date=11 December 2003 |access-date=30 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001207201900/http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/genus.pl?3610 |archive-date=7 December 2000 |url-status=dead}}
| subdivision = See text
| synonyms = * Dichondropsis Brandegee
}}
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 yellowish, {{convert|2|–|3|mm|abbr=on}} diameter. Members of the genus are commonly known as ponysfoots{{ITIS |id=30833 |taxon=Dichondra |accessdate=30 April 2012}} 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.{{cite book |first=Thomas H. |last=Everett |title=The New York Botanical Garden Illustrated Encyclopedia of Horticulture |volume=4 |publisher=Courier Corporation |year=1981 |isbn=978-0-8240-7234-6 |page=1059}}
=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):{{Cite web |url=http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:11850-1 |title=Dichondra J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. {{!}} Plants of the World Online {{!}} Kew Science |website=Plants of the World Online |access-date=19 April 2020}}
- Dichondra argentea Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd. – silver dichondra — Mexico, Texas.[http://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=1746 San Marcos Growers treatment: Dichondra argentea (silver dichondra)]
- Dichondra brachypoda Wooton & Standl. – New Mexico ponysfoot
- Dichondra brevifolia Buchanan
- Dichondra carolinensis Michx. – Carolina ponysfoot [http://eol.org/pages/580928/overview Encyclopedia of Life: Information on Dichondra carolinensis (Carolina Ponysfoot, Grass Ponysfoot)]
- Dichondra donelliana Tharp & M.C.Johnst. – California ponysfoot [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?3226,3266,3267 Jepson: Dichondra donelliana]
- Dichondra evolvulacea (L.f.) Britton
- Dichondra macrocalyx Meisn.
- Dichondra micrantha Urb. – Asian ponysfoot
- Dichondra microcalyx Meisn. – "Oreja de ratón — South America[http://www.fagro.edu.uy/~botanica/www_botanica/webcursobotanica/web_practicos_reconocimiento/web_reconocimiento_especies/dichondra_microcalyx.html Dichondra microcalyx] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610210227/http://www.fagro.edu.uy/~botanica/www_botanica/webcursobotanica/web_practicos_reconocimiento/web_reconocimiento_especies/dichondra_microcalyx.html |date=10 June 2015 }} {{in lang|es}}
- Dichondra nivea (Brandegee) Tharp & M.C.Johnst.
- Dichondra occidentalis House – western dichondra — Southern California coast.[http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?3226,3266,3268 Jepson: Dichondra occidentalis]
- 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{{cite web |url=http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?3610 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121212055327/http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?3610 |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 December 2012 |title=GRIN Species Records of Dichondra |work=Germplasm Resources Information Network |publisher=United States Department of Agriculture |access-date=30 April 2012}}
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.[http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/c899/dichondra-argentea-silver-falls.aspx Missouri Botanical Garden horticultural treatment: Dichondra argentea 'Silver Falls']
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 {{convert|8|–|25|mm|abbr=on}} in diameter with a {{convert|20|–|35|mm|abbr=on}} petiole.
In some habitats and landscapes of the United States, some of the non-native Dichondra species are treated as weeds.
References
{{Reflist|2}}
- {{Cite book |last1=Everitt |first1=J.H. |last2=Lonard |first2=R.L. |last3=Little |first3=C.R. |title=Weeds in South Texas and Northern Mexico |publisher=Texas Tech University Press |location=Lubbock |year=2007}}
- {{APNI | name = Dichondra J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. | id = 48006}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikispecies}}
- [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=DICHO USDA PLANTS Database: Dichondra]
- [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?3226,3266 Jepson Manual treatment for DICHONDRA]
- [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=109913 Flora of China: Dichondra]
{{Taxonbar|from=Q140232}}