Dichondra micrantha Urb., Convolvulaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: ma ti jin, xiao jin qián

English: Asian ponysfoot, Carolina dichondra, Mercury Bay weed, dichondra, false pennywort, galenga-grass, kidneyweed, lawnleaf

Japanese: aoi-goke

Spanish: alfombra

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Perennial herb, with most parts densely hairy; hairs white, ñ appressed, forked. Stems stoloniferous, freely branching, purplish, forming extensive mats or low cushions to 5 cm high. Leaf internodes 1-2 cm long; petioles erect or nearly so, to 6 cm long, short on very exposed stolons. Lamina (5)-10-30 mm in diameter, suborbicular to reniform, membranous, glabrous or nearly so and dull above, with appressed hairs below; veins raised beneath, not impressed above; base broad-cordate; apex rounded or slightly emarginate. Peduncles 5-15 mm long, bract very small and inconspicuous. Calyx c. 2 mm long, densely hairy outside; lobes alternately linear-oblong and ovate-oblong, obtuse to subacute. Corolla 4-5 mm in diameter, greenish white, lobed to c. 1/2 way; lobes narrow-oblong to lanceolate, = calyx lobes at anthesis, becoming > calyx lobes. Anthers violet or violet-margined. Ovary densely hairy. Capsule usually deeply 2-lobed, with 1-(2) seeds per loculus, 2-2.5 x 4-5 mm, more rarely only 1 locule developed, indehiscent, slightly to strongly hispid, > calyx. Fruiting calyx to 3 mm long, fruiting peduncle recurved. Seeds c. 1.5 mm long, yellow to dark brown"  (Webb et al., 1988; p. 555).

Description from the Flora of China online.

Habitat/ecology:  In New Zealand, "usually a lawn weed.  It has been widely planted as a lawn in warmer parts of N.Z. and in many places it has thrived and spread naturally to a limited extent"  (Webb et al., 1988; p. 555).

Propagation:  Seed and stolons.

Native range:  Southern North America and the West Indies  (Webb et al., 1988; p. 555).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island)	introduced invasive cultivated	Atkinson, Rachel/Sawyer, John (2011)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Lāna‘i Island	introduced invasive	Oppenheimer, Hank (2010) (p. 34) Voucher cited: Oppenheimer H50818 (BISH, PTBG)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Oppenheimer, Hank L./Bartlett, Randal T. (2002) (p. 6) Vouchers cited: West Maui: Oppenheimer H40011 (BISH); East Maui: Iltis H444-A (BISH), Oppenheimer H40003, Oppenheimer H60024 (PTBG)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Oppenheimer, Hank L./Bartlett, Randal T. (2002) (p. 6) Voucher cited: Oppenheimer & J. Kunna H60038 (BISH)
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
China China	China (People's Republic of)	introduced invasive	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Grasslands on mountain slopes, roadsides; 1300-2000 m. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, ?Qinghai, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang. Naturalized
Japan Japan	Japan	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku Naturalized
Japan Ryukyu Islands	Ryukyu Islands	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
South Korea South Korea	South Korea (Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Michoacan, Nuevo Leon, Queretaro
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive cultivated	Webb, C. J./Sykes, W. R./Garnock-Jones, P. J. (1988) (p. 555)
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	introduced invasive	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Grasslands on mountain slopes, roadsides; 1300-2000 m. Naturalized
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (California)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Comoros Comoro Islands	Comoro Islands	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	United States (other states)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Georgia, Texas Naturalized
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	USA (Florida)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized

Control:  If you know of control methods for Dichondra micrantha, please let us know.