Home | > | List of families | > | Caryophyllaceae | > | Polycarpon | > | prostratum |
Synonyms: |
Alsine prostrata Forssk. Pharnaceum depressum L. |
Common names: | |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Probably native |
Description: |
Annual herb with ascending spreading branches. Leaves opposite or subwhorled, subsessile, oblanceolate, pubescent, 0.3-3 cm long; margin entire. Stipules whitish, membranous, 1-2 mm. Inflorescences of terminal or axillary, many-flowered cymes. Sepals 3-4 mm, broad green in the middle and with whitish hyaline margins. Petals 5 (less often 2-3 or 0), membranous, acute. Stamens 3-5. Capsule ellipsoid, shorter than the persistent sepals, with 3 membranous valves. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | prostratum: lying flat on the ground; prostrate |
Habitat: | In open sandy habitats, often as a weed of lawns and areas of cultivation |
Altitude range: | |
Flowering time: | |
Worldwide distribution: | Pantropical species, sometimes occurring in the subtropics |
Malawi distribution: | S |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Literature: |
Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 45. As Polycarpon prostratum prostratum Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 32. as Polycarpon prostratum var. prostratum Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 45. Wild, H. (1960-1). Caryophyllaceae Flora Zambesiaca 1(2) Pages 339 - 341. (Includes a picture). |
Home | > | List of families | > | Caryophyllaceae | > | Polycarpon | > | prostratum |