Mollugo crockeri Howell
Mollugo
One of several Mollugo species native to the Galápagos Islands, this one is found only on the lava fields of Santiago.
Plants: Low growing or erect annual herb can reach 8″ (20 cm) in height. It is heavily branched, and a very early colonizer of fresh lava fields.
Leaves: Usually in whorls. Leaves are simple, linear, needlelike, ⅛–¾″ (5–20 mm) long, with smooth edges. There are obvious glandular hairs on stems, leaves, and flowers.
Flowers: Clusters of 3-8 flowers appear at leaf axils. Each flower is white, green-tinged, with five sepals, each 1/32–1/16″ (1.5–2 mm) long, with sharp tips. There are 3-6 stamens.
Fruits: Capsules have numerous seeds.
Habitats: Lava fields of Santiago, in the Galápagos Islands, in full sun.
Online References:
References:
McMullen, Conley K., Flowering Plants of the Galápagos, Comstock Publishing Associates, 1999, p. 282
4/2/2025 · Lava Fields, Sullivan Bay, Santiago, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador 
4/2/2025 · Lava Fields, Sullivan Bay, Santiago, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador 
4/2/2025 · Sullivan Bay, Santiago, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador · By Kathryn Morgis 
4/2/2025 · Lava Fields, Sullivan Bay, Santiago, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador 
4/2/2025 · Sullivan Bay, Santiago, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador · By Kathryn Morgis 
ID is uncertain 
4/2/2025 · Lava Fields, Sullivan Bay, Santiago, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador 
4/2/2025 · Lava Fields, Sullivan Bay, Santiago, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador 
4/2/2025 · Sullivan Bay, Santiago, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador · By Kathryn Morgis ID is uncertain 
4/2/2025 · Sullivan Bay, Santiago, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador · By Kathryn Morgis 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Caryophyllidae | Cacti, many other succulents, carnivorous plants, and leadworts |
| Order | Caryophyllales | Includes cacti, carnations, amaranths, ice plants, and many carnivorous plants |
| Family | Molluginaceae | Carpet-weed family, about 100 species |
| Genus | Mollugo | An old name for the genus Galium, now used in the family Aizoacaea instead |
| Species | crockeri | For Charles Frederick Crocker (1854-1897), a vice-president of the Southern Pacific Transportation Company |
Mollugo crockeri description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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