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Lamiaceae Taxonomy Browser
Glechoma hederacea L.
EOL Text
This introduced perennial plant is usually 1' or less, branching frequently and forming a low-growing mat of stems and leaves across the ground. The 4-angled stems are prostrate to slightly ascending, and often form rootlets near the axils of the leaves when they touch the ground. The opposite leaves are about 1" long and across. They are green to purplish green, orbicular, and crenate along the margins. There is a flat indentation where the long petiole joins the base of a leaf. The pubescent upper surface has conspicuous palmate venation. Clusters of 1-3 tubular flowers develop from the leaf axils. These flowers are bluish violet to reddish purple and about ½" in length. The corolla of each flower is narrow at the base, but flares outward like a trumpet into spreading lobes. There is a notched upper lobe, a notched lower lobe, and 2 smaller side lobes. The lower lobe is larger than the others and functions as a landing pad for visiting insects. It has darker violet lines that function as nectar guides. Within the throat of the corolla, there are fuzzy hairs. Each flower has a single pistil with a divided style, 2 long stamens, and 2 short stamens. The pubescent calyx is about 1/3 the length of the tubular corolla, with 15 veins running along its length and 5 teeth along its outer edge. The blooming period usually occurs from mid-spring to early summer for about 2 months, although some plants may bloom later in the year if they remain in cool shade or a major disturbance prevents earlier bloom. Upon maturity, each flower is replaced by 4 dark brown nutlets. Each nutlet is ovoid, with 2 flat sides and an outer side that is rounded. The root system is fibrous and shallow. This plant often forms dense colonies by forming rootlets along the stems.
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Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2002-2014 by Dr. John Hilty |
Source | http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/ground_ivy.htm |
Valley grasslands. Xinjiang (Gongliu Xian) [Russia; Europe]
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Rights holder/Author | eFloras.org Copyright © Missouri Botanical Garden |
Source | http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200019682 |
More info for the terms: competition, density, ramet, stolon
Growth: Literature pertaining to ground-ivy's growth is limited to information derived in its native range. Primary stolons develop from the axillary buds at the base of each ramet [52], and growth occurs through rapid stolon extension and additional ramet production [51]. In a greenhouse, stolon extension rate ranged from 0.75 to 1.1 inches/day (1.9 and 2.9 cm/day), and ramets were produced at a rate of approximately 2/week [5]. However, ground-ivy does not typically flower in greenhouse conditions [52,102], suggesting that its growth rate may be slower in wild populations where some energy is allocated to flowering.
A greenhouse study on ground-ivy growth determined that maintenance of stolon connections in ground-ivy was advantageous to growth and ramet survival [100]. However, another greenhouse study found that fragmented ground-ivy stolons can develop into physiologically independent units capable of continued growth [7]. Growth on fragmented stolons was associated with a smaller ramet size but greater ramet density than on intact stolons [100]; however, ramet production on fragmented stolons may be limited if fewer than 5 rooted ramets remain [7].
Greenhouse studies in England found that ground-ivy's morphology was highly plastic in response to resource availability. When compared to plants grown in unshaded, nutrient-rich environments, plants grown where light and nutrients were limited had decreased stolon branching, leaf area, and ramet production [99,100,102,128] and increased internode and petiole length [99,100,101,102,128].
Interspecific competition for resources may also influence ground-ivy growth. In the greenhouse, ground-ivy's morphology changed in response to competition from perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) for soil resources and light. Plants grown with uncut perennial ryegrass exhibited decreased ramet production, stolon branching, and secondary stolon production, and increased internode and petiole length, when compared to ground-ivy plants grown without competition [85]. On an experimental site in Germany, DaBler and others [18] observed that leaf area ratio (total leaf area per total dry mass per shoot) of ground-ivy increased in response to increased competition for light when grown with species common to Central European semi-natural grasslands.
Ground-ivy may be more productive in heterogeneous growing conditions (patchy nutrient distribution) when compared to homogenous conditions (uniform nutrient distribution) [6,51]. In the greenhouse, Birch and Hutchings [6] reported that the overall biomass of ground-ivy grown in heterogeneous nutrient conditions was over 2.5 times greater than biomass of plants grown in homogeneous habitats providing the same quantity of nutrients. Eighty percent of ground-ivy's root biomass was concentrated at nodes associated with localized patches of nutrient-rich soil (peat-based potting compost), suggesting that nutrient heterogeneity may influence root establishment and growth in ground-ivy. Roots also developed earlier and grew longer in plots with heterogeneous soil resources compared to those with homogeneous soil resources [6]. Ramets developing on localized sites with fewer resources seldom sprouted roots at the node. In another greenhouse experiment, Farley and Fritter [24] reported that specific root length (m/g root dry weight) of ground-ivy was greater in patchy nutrient enriched soils compared to patches of unenriched soils, although the difference was not significant. Root length density (km of root/m³) was more likely to increase in medium to large patches of enriched soil versus smaller patches [24]. Clones rooted in heterogeneous soils may translocate resources from older to newer ramets. This allows ramets in nutrient-rich patches to transport resources to ramets established in less favorable growing conditions, thereby increasing their chances for survival [101].
Used medicinally for pneumonia and nephritis.
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Rights holder/Author | eFloras.org Copyright © Missouri Botanical Garden |
Source | http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200019682 |
Ground Ivy is occasional to locally common in most areas of Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include openings of floodplain forests, semi-shaded areas along rivers, powerline clearances in woodland areas, cemeteries, lawns and gardens, and miscellaneous waste areas. This plant can withstand regular mowing, but flourishes better without it. It prefers disturbed areas, but occasionally invades higher quality natural areas. Sometimes homeowners tolerate its presence in lawns because they like the flowers. Faunal Associations
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2002-2014 by Dr. John Hilty |
Source | http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/ground_ivy.htm |
Glechoma hederacea (Ground Ivy) introduced
(Insects suck nectar; butterflies, skippers, & moths are ineffective pollinators; observations are from Robertson)
Bees (long-tongued)
Apidae (Apinae): Apis mellifera fq; Apidae (Bombini): Bombus bimaculatus, Bombus pensylvanica fq, Bombus vagans; Anthophoridae (Anthophorini): Anthophora abrupta fq; Anthophoridae (Ceratinini): Ceratina dupla dupla fq; Anthophoridae (Eucerini): Synhalonia speciosa fq; Anthophoridae (Nomadini): Nomada superba superba fq; Megachilidae (Osmiini): Hoplitis pilosifrons, Osmia collinsiae, Osmia pumila fq
Bees (short-tongued)
Halictidae (Halictinae): Augochlorella striata, Augochloropsis metallica metallica
Flies
Syrphidae: Rhingia nasica; Bombyliidae: Bombylius atriceps
Butterflies
Pieridae: Colias philodice np fq, Pieris rapae np
Skippers
Hesperiidae: Poanes hobomok np, Poanes zabulon np, Polites peckius np
Moths
Noctuidae: Anagrapha falcifera np
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2002-2015 by Dr. John Hilty |
Source | http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/flower_insects//plants/ground_ivy.htm |
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 19
Specimens with Barcodes: 27
Species With Barcodes: 1
Canada
Origin: Exotic
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Unknown/Undetermined
Confidence: Confident
United States
Origin: Exotic
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Unknown/Undetermined
Confidence: Confident
Foodplant / open feeder
gregarious larva of Athalia lineolata grazes on leaf (underside) of Glechoma hederacea
Foodplant / open feeder
adult of Chrysolina violacea grazes on live leaf of Glechoma hederacea
Remarks: season: 3-9
Other: sole host/prey
Foodplant / gall
larva of Dasineura glechomae causes gall of live Glechoma hederacea
In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Foodplant / parasite
cleistothecium of Erysiphe biocellata parasitises live Glechoma hederacea
Other: minor host/prey
Plant / associate
fruitbody of Limacella delicata var. vinosorubescens is associated with Glechoma hederacea
Foodplant / gall
larva of Liposthenes latreillei causes gall of live leaf of Glechoma hederacea
Foodplant / feeds on
larva of Meligethes ovatus feeds on Glechoma hederacea
Foodplant / parasite
cleistothecium of Neoerysiphe galeopsidis parasitises live Glechoma hederacea
Remarks: season: Spring
Foodplant / shot hole causer
epiphyllous, scattered pycnidium of Phyllosticta coelomycetous anamorph of Phyllosticta glechomae causes shot holes on live leaf of Glechoma hederacea
Remarks: season: 8-10
Foodplant / miner
larva of Phytomyza glechomae mines leaf of Glechoma hederacea
Other: sole host/prey
Foodplant / gall
telium of Puccinia glechomatis causes gall of live petiole of Glechoma hederacea
Foodplant / spot causer
hypophyllous colony of Ramularia anamorph of Ramularia glechomatis causes spots on live leaf of Glechoma hederacea
Remarks: season: 7-10
Foodplant / gall
larva of Rondaniola bursaria causes gall of live leaf of Glechoma hederacea