Smooth Carpetweed

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Smooth Carpetweed
• nakedstem carpetweed

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pharnaceum nudicaule
• Mollugo sinaica
• Mollugo caespitosa
• Lampetia nudicaulis
• Mollugo nudicaulis

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Caryophyllales, it is classified under the family Molluginaceae. Specifically, it is identified by its genus, Paramollugo, and its species name, nudicaulis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several distinct regions of the African continent. In Northern Africa, its presence is specifically noted within the borders of Libya. Moving toward the Atlantic, it can be found in the Macaronesian islands of Cape Verde. The species also extends into West Tropical Africa, where it is documented in Benin and Burkina. Finally, its range continues through West Tropical Africa to include the country of Ghana.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Paramollugo nudicaulis is characterized by its adaptability to diverse disturbed environments, where it typically thrives as a weed in roadsides, open and waste places, and within cultivated ground. This species occupies a broad altitudinal gradient, establishing itself at elevations ranging from a minimum of 183 m AMSL to a maximum of 1350 m AMSL. Its ability to colonize human-influenced landscapes and various open terrains suggests a resilient ecological strategy suited for transitional or anthropogenically altered habitats.

Elevational range max:

1350 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

183 m AMSL

Habitat :

a weed of roadsides and of open and waste places and cultivated ground

Life history

The life history of Paramollugo nudicaulis is characterized by its specific biological strategies and survival mechanisms within its ecological niche. This species functions as an annual in its lifecycle, completing its entire reproductive process from germination to seed production within a single growing season. In terms of its structural growth and survival strategy, the plant is classified as a therophyte, meaning it survives unfavorable seasons as seeds, and it also exhibits the characteristics of a cryptophyte, relying on protected buds or underground structures to endure environmental stressors.

Life form :

therophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Paramollugo nudicaulis is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a small plant, exhibiting a stature that ranges from a minimum height of 0.05 m to a maximum height of 0.3 m. Regarding its habit, the species is classified as self-supporting, functioning as a self-supporting climber rather than an obligatory liana or vine. In terms of its ecological niche and substrate preference, it is a terrestrial plant that is neither an epiphyte nor an aquatic or semiaquatic species. Furthermore, it maintains an independent lifestyle, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.3 m

Plant height min:

0.05 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Paramollugo nudicaulis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in its natural habitat. The plant's vegetative structure is defined by specific foliar dimensions that reflect its morphological adaptation. The leaves exhibit a significant range in size, with a mean leaf length of 3 cm, varying from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 5 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 0.8 cm and a maximum of 1.5 cm, maintaining an average leaf width of 1.15 cm. These physiological parameters in leaf dimensions and carbon assimilation strategies are fundamental to the plant's growth and resource management.

Leaf length max:

5 cm

Leaf length mean:

3 cm

Leaf length min:

1 cm

Leaf width max:

1.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

1.15 cm

Leaf width min:

0.8 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Paramollugo nudicaulis is characterized by the production of minute seeds that exhibit specific variations in weight. The seed mass within this species shows a mean value of 0.00011 g, indicating a highly lightweight reproductive unit. The range of seed sizes is relatively narrow, with a maximum seed mass reaching 0.00018 g and a minimum seed mass recorded at 7e-05 g. These measurements suggest a reproductive strategy involving the dispersal of very small seeds, which likely play a critical role in the plant's ability to colonize its environment.

Seed mass max:

0.00018 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00011 g

Seed mass min:

7e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Paramollugo nudicaulis has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Febrifuge.

Febrifuge

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology