Indian chickweed, Carpet weed
Mollugo verticillata

Family: Molluginaceae

What it is like

A creeping herb. It is 10-30 cm high. The leaf stalk is short. The leaves near the base are in a ring and are oval and cup shaped. They are 1.5-2 cm long. The leaves on the stem are about 7 in groups of 2 or 3. They are 1-3 cm long by 1.5-4 mm wide. The flowers occur in clusters of 3-5 flowers. They are greenish white. The fruit is a capsule. It is oval and 3-4 mm long by 2.5 mm wide. It has 3 valves. There are many kidney shaped seeds.

There are about 35 Mollugo species. They are mostly in tropical and subtropical regions.

Where it is found

It is a tropical and subtropical plant. It grows in barren grassland near the sea in C China. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Central America, Chile, China, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Europe, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Japan, Korea, North America, Paraguay, Philippines, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, South America (country/location of origin), Suriname, Taiwan, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela, West Indies (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

The entire plant is cooked and eaten as a potherb. It is added to vegetable soups during the last minutes of cooking. They are also used in salads.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Alfom bra, Cabelo-de-gua, Capim-tapete, Clavelina montes, Cominillo, Gorga, Gorja, Mofungo, Molugo, Nandu pysa, Papait, Pasto alfombra, Salsalida, Tomillo montes, Ynambu rupa, Zoing leng su mi cao

Synonyms

Mollugo costata Y.T.Chang & C.F.Wei;