Plants form mats in grassy or disturbed areas. Photo Jan - Central Coast.

Flowers are white. Bracts remain after flowers finished. Photo John Goulton.

Stems and leaves are covered with whitish hairs. Photo John Goulton.

Stems root at the nodes. Photo John Goulton.

Smooth brown seeds each about 2 mm long. Photo John Goulton.

Scientific Name

Richardia humistrata

Common Name

Richardia

Origin

South America

Family

Rubiaceae

Distinguishing Characteristics

This plant is a low growing perennial herb often found in open grassy areas and disturbed sites. It can form dense mats. The hairy stems can be up to 15 cm long and root at each node.

Leaves are .5 to 2 cm long, 3 to 10 mm wide. Leaves and stems are covered in whitish hairs. The leaves are oval in shape with a pointed tip.

The white flowers with 4 petals are in a cluster of up to 15 and each is surrounded by 4 bracts. The bracts remain after the flowers are finished and change from green to brown.

This plant spreads rapidly and produces abundant seed. Fruit at maturity breaks into 4  mericarps or seeds.

As roots appear at most nodes along the stem every bit of the plant needs to be removed when trying to control it.

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Other plants easily confused with this plant

Easily confused with Richardia brasiliensis however R. brasilienses is generally a larger plant with stems up to 40 cm long, has flowers with 6 petals, bracts with 4 to 6 lobes and is an annual herb.

Sources & References

"Plantnet FloraOnline" (2005) http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/

Prepared by IEWF March 2012