Consists only of the following genus:

1. Dichondra Forst. Char. Gen. Pl. 39. Pl. 40. 1776

Prostrate or creeping slender annual (sometimes perennial?) silky-pubescent or glabrous herbs, with nearly orbicular cordate or reniform petioled entire leaves, and very small solitary axillary peduncled flowers. Sepals nearly equal, oblong or spatulate. Corolla open-campanulate, deeply 5-parted, the lobes induplicate in the bud. Stamens shorter than the corolla; filaments filiform. Ovary villous, deeply 2-parted, each lobe 2-celled; styles 2, simple, arising from the bases of the ovary-lobes; stigmas capitate. Fruit of 2 pubescent 2-valved or indehiscent 1-2-seeded capsules. [Greek, two-grained, referring to the capsules.]

About 5 species, natives of warm and tropical regions. Besides the following, another occurs in the southwest. Type species: Dichondra repens Forst.

1. Dichondra Carolinensis Michx. Dichondra

Fig. 2423

Dichondra carolinensis Michx. Fl. Bor. Am. 1: 136. 1803.

Somewhat pubescent, or glabrous; stems almost filiform, creeping, rooting at the nodes, 6'-2° long. Leaves orbicular to reniform, deeply cordate, 1/4'-1 1/2' in diameter, palmately veined; petiole often much longer than the blade; flowers \"~2" broad; peduncles filiform; sepals obtuse, spatulate or obovate; corolla yellow to white, shorter than the sepals, its lobes ovate to oblong; capsule 1" high or less.

In moist or wet places, Virginia to Texas and Mexico, near the coast. Widely distributed in Central and South America. Has been regarded as referable to the Old World D. repens Forst.; the specific name evolvulacea was used for it in our first edition, in error.