Ophiopogon

Scientific name

Ophiopogon Ker Gawl.

Common names

mondo grass, fountain plant

Family

Asparagaceae

Similar genera

Lilaeopsis, Peliosanthes

Native distribution

warm-temperate, subtropical, and tropical Asia

Species cultivated

(one species plus cultivated varieties and hybrids)

Ophiopogon japonicus (Thunb.) Ker Gawl.

Adventive distribution

information not available

Weed status

not weedy

Habit

terrestrial, sometimes amphibiousamphibious:
(adj) of a plant able to live on land or in water
herbs; Ophiopogon japonicus tolerates short periods submergedsubmerged:
(adj) (syn. submersed) under water; submerged below the water surface
but is typically grown in a garden setting.

Brief description

Small rosetterosette:
(n) a radiating cluster of leaves, usually close to the ground at the base of a plant
. Rhizomatousrhizomatous:
(adj) possessing rhizomes
, frequently stoloniferous, roots fibrous with distinct tubers; stem prostrateprostrate:
(adj) growing closely along the ground
. Leaves typically basalbasal:
(adj) at or pertaining to the base, or point of attachment
, alternatealternate:
(adj) (of leaves) bearing one leaf per node; placed singly on the stem at different heights
; sessilesessile:
(adj) attached directly, without a stalk
; leaf bladeblade:
(n) (syn. lamina) the flat, expanded part of a leaf, frond, or petal (excluding, e.g., the petiole)
linear, abaxialabaxial:
(adj) the side facing away from the axis, as in the underside of a leaf
surface usually with whitish streaks; leaf base sheathing; marginmargin:
(n) edge; rim
serrulate. Inflorescenceinflorescence:
(n) the arrangement of flowers on the floral axis
an axillaryaxillary:
(adj) in, of, or produced from an axil
raceme or rarely a reduced paniclepanicle:
(n) an indeterminate, branched (often much-branched) inflorescence; the ultimate units may be of a different inflorescence type
, several to many flowered, pedunculatepedunculate:
(adj) borne on or possessing a peduncle
; bracts small, lanceolatelanceolate:
(adj) lance-shaped; widest point below the middle, tapering to the apex
. Flowers white or violet; pedicelspedicels:
(n) the stalk of a single flower in an inflorescence, or of a grass spikelet
articulated near middle, usually nodding; tepals 6, usually free, spreading or campanulatecampanulate:
(adj) bell-shaped
, lanceolatelanceolate:
(adj) lance-shaped; widest point below the middle, tapering to the apex
to oblong-elliptic; stamens 6, inserted at base of tepals, filaments very short, often connateconnate:
(adj) of plant parts congenitally united into a single structure
; ovaryovary:
(n) a hollow organ at the base of the carpel of a flower in which ovules are produced
3-locular.

Natural habitat

typically in mossy forests, moist and shady places on slopes and along streams

Additional comments

Ophiopogon japonicus is frequently offered as an aquarium plant and will survive short periods submergedsubmerged:
(adj) (syn. submersed) under water; submerged below the water surface
, but will eventually die if not grown emersedemersed:
see emergent
. It is widely cultivated as a medicinal and ornamental plant in gardens where it is grown terrestrially.