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Glite Dictionary
Molluga verticillata

Molluga verticillata

9.9
An annual ground-hugging weed that has leaves in circles and small pale green flowers
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Molluga verticillata
  • The small, greenish-white flowers of Molluga verticillata make it easy to identify among ground-covering plants.

Examples

  • Molluga verticillata is commonly found growing in disturbed soils and lawns across North America.

  • Gardeners often regard Molluga verticillata as a persistent and troublesome weed.

  • The Molluga verticillata can often be found in disturbed areas.

  • Have you seen the Molluga verticillata blooming this season?

  • Molluga verticillata is often found in gardens and parks, where it can grow rapidly and form dense mats.

  • In spring, the presence of Molluga verticillata in my lawn reminded me to work on my weed control.

  • Many homeowners struggle with Molluga verticillata as it can quickly take over garden beds.

Synonyms

carpetweed
vsMolluga verticillata
  • US
9.9

A low plant that spreads across the ground with small greenish white flowers often in gardens and roadsides

is the same plant described as both prostrate and mat-forming
Indian chickweed
vsMolluga verticillata
  • US
9.9

A low spreading weed that forms a flat green mat with small greenish-white flowers

is the same plant but highlighted as prostrate rather than only mat-forming

Surface Forms

Molluga verticillata singular
Molluga verticillatas plural

Morphology

Molluga + verticillata

The phrase is a scientific binomial (genus + species), so a learner who knows the constituents would at least recognize it as the name of a plant. However, the species epithet is Latin and not a normal English lexical item, and the detailed descriptive meaning (annual, prostrate, mat-forming weed with whorled leaves) is not derivable from ordinary English knowledge of the parts, making the overall meaning only partially predictable.

Etymology

Molluga verticillata comes from Latin. The second word verticillata means 'whorl' or 'ring' because the plant's leaves grow in small circles around the stem, so the name helps you remember its ringed leaf pattern.