- Dichondra repens
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Kidney Weed 
Kidney Weed at Eastwood, Australia Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae (unranked): Angiosperms (unranked): Eudicots (unranked): Asterids Order: Solanales Family: Convolvulaceae Genus: Dichondra Species: D. repens Binomial name Dichondra repens
J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.Dichondra repens is a small prostrate herbaceous plant native to New Zealand and many parts of Australia. It is commonly known as Kidney Weed in Australia and as Mercury Bay weed in New Zealand. Often occurring in forest, woodlands and grasslands, it also inhabits suburban lawns. The plant has a creeping habit, with roots forming at the nodes.
The leaves are kidney shaped, and measure 0.5 to 2.5 cm (0.2-1 in) long. The tiny yellowish green flowers form mostly in summer, but can appear at any time of the year. The fruit is a hairy two lobed capsule.
Originally described by botanists Johann Reinhold Forster and Georg Forster, its specific epithet is the Latin adjective repens "creeping".[1]
Uses
Kidney weed can be used as a lawn substitute.[2]
References
- ^ Simpson DP (1979). Cassell's Latin Dictionary (5 ed.). London: Cassell Ltd.. ISBN 0-304-52257-0.
- ^ http://www.westone.wa.gov.au/toolbox6/hort6/html/resources/depot/hort_file/plant_product/plant_planet_pages/dichondra_repens.html
- Plant Net, Dichondra repens http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Dichondra~repens retrieved 14 September 2009
- New Zealand Plant Conservation Network http://nzpcn.org.nz/flora_details.asp?ID=2107
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