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
entire 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)
lanceolatelanceolate:
(adj) lance-shaped; widest point below the middle, tapering to the apex
, oblongoblong:
(adj) two to four times longer than wide, with +/- parallel sides
to ellipticelliptical:
(adj) in the form of an ellipse (oval)
; 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
pinnate, 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
tubulartubular:
(adj) (of a corolla, perianth, calyx tube or other structure) (1) tube-shaped; cylindrical: narrow and elongate with more or less straight sides; (2) having segments fused into a tube (of any shape)
, deeply 5- lobedlobed:
(adj) divided into (usually rounded) segments
; 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

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