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Mollugo verticillata
Also called Carpetweed, Indian Chickweed, Whorled Carpetweed, Carpet Weed, Carpet Weed, Indian Chickweed, Green Carpet Weed, Common Carpetweed
Mollugo verticillata, the green carpetweed (also known as Indian chickweed), is a rapidly spreading annual plant from tropical America. In eastern North America, it is a common weed growing in disturbed areas. It forms a prostrate circular mat that can quickly climb over nearby plants and obstacles. The species has been reported from every state in the United States except Alaska, Hawaii, and Utah, as well as from British Columbia, Manitoba. Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Although considered an invasive weed, M. verticillata is also known to be edible. Archaeological evidence has shown that M. verticillata has been in North America for about 3000 years. Sometimes also referred to as "Indian chickweed", in China this plant is referred to as zhong leng su mi cao.
The wide range of M. verticillata is apparent across North America, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America, Eurasia and Africa. There is agreement among some studies that the carpetweed originated in the New World tropics and spread into more temperate zones. Overall the place of origin has been attributed to the tropics or subtropics of the northern and southern hemispheres. It is commonly found in warm and/or wet environments across North America.
Along with Glinus (Molluginaceae), Mollugo are edible plants that have historically been utilized as vegetables or for medicinal benefits. The family Molluginaceae has been studied for its therapeutic characteristics due to the production of triterpenes saponins and flavonoids. One study suggested that ethanolic extracts of M. verticillata could be a potential immunomodulator. The chemical makeup in members of the family Molluginaceae in general has anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Mollugo verticillata by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts are shared under the same licence.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
