Dentella

Scientific name

Dentella J. R. Forst. & G. Forst.

Family

Rubiaceae

Similar genera

Crassula, Microcarpaea, Nelsonia, Staurogyne

Native distribution

Australia and southeast Asia

Species cultivated

not currently cultivated

Adventive distribution

Dentella repens (L.) J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. is introduced into the Pacific Basin.

Weed status

not weedy

Habit

dense, prostrateprostrate:
(adj) growing closely along the ground
, creeping, mat-forming herb

Brief description

Stem fleshy, with translucent hairs, rooting at nodes. Leaves small, oppositeopposite:
(adj) (of leaves) two leaves per node; in pairs on opposite sides of an axis
, distichousdistichous:
(adj) (of leaves or flowers) distinctly arranged in two ranks along an axis; leaves may be opposite or alternate
; stipules membranous, marginmargin:
(n) edge; rim
entireentire:
(adj) having a continuous margin that is not toothed or lobed
to ciliateciliate:
(adj) with a marginal fringe of stiff hairs
, frequently fused to petiolepetiole:
(n) the stalk of a leaf
; leaf bladeblade:
(n) (syn. lamina) the flat, expanded part of a leaf, frond, or petal (excluding, e.g., the petiole)
lanceolate, oblongoblong:
(adj) two to four times longer than wide, with +/- parallel sides
to elliptic; apexapex:
(n) the point farthest from the point of attachment; the tip (often pointed)
acuteacute:
(adj) tapering to a sharp, pointed apex with more or less straight sides; broader than acuminate; forming an angle of less than 90 degrees
; base attenuateattenuate:
(adj) narrowing gradually to a point
; venationvenation:
(n) the arrangement of veins in a leaf
pinnatepinnate:
(adj) in the form of a feather; of, e.g., leaflets, lobes, or veins: arranged in two rows along an axis
, often only midribmidrib:
(n) the main or central vein, line or rib in a leaf or perianth segment
distinct. Inflorescenceinflorescence:
(n) the arrangement of flowers on the floral axis
in leaf axils at alternatealternate:
(adj) (of leaves) bearing one leaf per node; placed singly on the stem at different heights
nodes, solitary; flowers small, actinomorphicactinomorphic:
(adj) of flowers, having radial symmetry; capable of being bisected into identifical halves along more than one axis
, sessilesessile:
(adj) attached directly, without a stalk
. Calyxcalyx:
(n) the outer whorl of the perianth; all the sepals of a flower
tubular, deeply 5-lobed; persistentpersistent:
(adj) (of leaves etc,) remaining attached; not being dropped or falling off
in fruit. Corollacorolla:
(n) the inner whorl(s) of the perianth; all the petals of a flower
funnel-like; 5-lobed, 2- or 3-toothed, pubescentpubescent:
(adj) (1) covered with short, soft hairs; (2) bearing hairs
inside throat; white to pink. Stamens 5, attached to corollacorolla:
(n) the inner whorl(s) of the perianth; all the petals of a flower
tube; stylestyle:
(n) in a flower, the narrow and elongated part of the pistil between the stigma and the ovary
2-lobed.

Natural habitat

terrestrial terrestrial:
(adj) growing on land as opposed to living in water
and freshwater; along river banks, marshy habitats, mud flats, edges of drainage lines