Matted beadplant, Bead plant, Matted Nertera
Nertera granadensis

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

A herb which forms mats. It keeps growing from year to year. It lies along the ground and spreads 10-30 cm wide. The stems are slender and much branched. They are about 10 cm long. They form roots at the nodes. The leaves are 0.3-0.5 cm long by 0.3-0.45 cm wide. They are oval or rounded. The stalks are 0.4 cm long. The flowers are 0.2 cm long and like tubes. They have spreading lobes. They are yellowish-green. They occur singly at the ends of branches. The fruit are small and yellow or orange-red.

There are 12 Nertera species.

Where it is found

It grows in subantarctic to tropical places It grows in wet, sheltered sites. It grows on mossy rocks and cliff faces. It suits cool shaded spots. It can tolerate frosts. It needs constant moisture. In Argentina it grows between 500-3,500 m above sea level. Tasmania Herbarium.

Countries/locations it is found in

Argentina, Asia, Australia (country/location of origin), Bolivia, Central America, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Hawaii, Honduras, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Pacific, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, SE Asia, South America, Taiwan, Tasmania (country/location of origin), USA, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

The plant can be grown by division. It can also be grown from seed or cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Glechoma marifolia Kuntze; Nepeta mussinii Spreng. ex Henckel; and others