Polycarpon tetraphyllum (L.) L.

Polycarpon species are annual or perennial herbs, stem erect or prostrate, diffuse, branched dichotomously, ridged or terete, rootstock slender, long taproots. Leaves simple, opposite or in whorls of 4, obovate-oblong to orbicular, base not connate, margin entire, apex acute to obtuse with mucronate tip, not succulent, glabrous or pubescent, 1-veined, petiolate, stipules 2 per node, triangular-lanceolate, margins entire or irregularly cut, apex acuminate. Inflorescence in terminal, dense or lax, dichasial compound condensed cymes. Flowers bisexual, hypogynous, pedicel erect or sessile, bracts paired, margins scarious, similar to stipules or absent, sepals 5, keeled, hooded, distinct, lanceolate-ovate, margins scarious, apex acute, green with white margins, about 1-2.5 mm long, petals 5, free, white, narrow, margins entire, apex emarginate. Stamens 1-5, filaments somewhat united near the base, anthers 2-locular, dorsifixed, nectarines present. Ovary superior, unilocular, about 0.4 mm long, ovules many, staminodes absent, style 1, trifid up to the middle, stigmas 3. Fruit capsule, ovoid-globose, tri valved, incurved, twisting spirally into tubes, carpophore present. Seeds 8-15, ovoid, whitish, compressed laterally, embryo marginal wings absent.

Flowering class: Dicot Habit: Herb Distribution notes: Exotic

Flowering and fruiting: Throughout the year

Polycarpon species flowers are complete, bisexual, i.e., with functional male (androecium) and female (gynoecium), including stamens, carpels and ovary; rarely unisexual. Pollination is entomophilous i.e., by insects, or cleistogamy i.e., by self or allogamy i.e., by cross pollination. Flowering/Fruiting: March-June.

Seeds may be dispersed by autochory i.e., self dispersal, anemochory i.e., wind dispersal, zoochory i.e., dispersal by birds or animals, anthropochory i.e., dispersal by humans.

Annual herbs, about 3-15 cm tall, stem suberect or ascending, diffusely branched dichotomously, ridged, glabrous, rootstock slender, long taproots. Leaves simple, opposite or in whorls of 4, obovate-oblong to spathulate, about 8-13 x 4-6 mm across, base not connate, margin entire, apex obtuse with mucronate tip, not succulent, glabrous, 1-veined, petiole very short, stipules 2 per node, lanceolate-triangular, margins entire or irregularly cut, apex acuminate, about 2.5-3 mm long. Inflorescence in terminal, dense or lax, dichasial compound compact cymes. Flowers bisexual, hypogynous, about 2-3 mm across pedicel erect or sessile, bracts paired, margins scarious, similar to stipules or absent, sepals 5, keeled, hooded, distinct, lanceolate-ovate, midrib raised above, margins scarious, apex acute, about 1.5-2.5 x 1 mm across, petals 5 or less, free, white, narrow oblong, margins entire, apex emarginated, half as long as sepals, deciduous. Stamens 3-5, filaments somewhat united near the base, anthers 2-locular, dorsifixed, nectarines present. Ovary superior, unilocular, about 0.4 mm long, ovules many, staminodes absent, style 1, trifid up to the middle, stigmas 3. Fruit capsule, ovoid-globose, about 1.5 mm long, tri valved, incurved, twisting spirally into tubes, carpophore present. Seeds many, minute, whitish brown, compressed laterally, embryo marginal wings absent, finely papillose.

Polycarpon species are susceptible to various insect pests, viruses, root rots, powdery mildews and moulds.

Notes: Western Ghats, Naturalized, Native of Mediterranean Region

Growing as a weed in tea plantations and roadsides in the High Ranges

Nilgiri, pulney and Anamalais mountains at high altitude.

Not evaluated (IUCN).

Used in folk medicine.