Common name: Kidney Weed, Yilibili (D'harawal)
Dichondra repens J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. APNI*
Description: Perennial herb with creeping stems, rooting at nodes.
Leaves with lamina reniform to oblong-circular, 5–25 mm long and slightly broader, apex rounded to emarginate, base cordate, both surfaces sparsely to moderately pilose; petiole much longer that lamina.
Flowers solitary; pedicel 10–50 mm long, not recurved in fruit. Calyx lobes oblong-elliptic, 2.5–4 mm long. Corolla shorter or slightly longer than the calyx with a short tube and longer ovate to elliptic lobes, pale greenish yellow.
Capsule deeply 2-lobed; lobes ± free, pilose, opening irregularly, shorter than the calyx.
Flowering: throughout year, mainly spring–summer.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in forest, woodland and grassland, and weed of lawns; widespread.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, NT, CT, ST, NWS, CWS, SWS, SWP
Other Australian states: Qld Vic. Tas. W.A. S.A.
Plants which resemble Dichondra repens with long straight to sinuate pedicels in flower and fruit, but differ by having leaves glabrous or sparsely hairy above, and with sparse short appressed hairs below, has been recognised by the late R. (Bob) Johnson of BRI as a distinct entity. A provisional name of Dichondra sp. New England was applied. Specimens are known from the Newnes Plateau in the Central Tablelands through to the New England Tableland and Carrai Plateau regions.
Text by R. W. Johnson, updated by A.E. Orme June 2024. Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 3 (1992)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data ***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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