Mollugo verticillata,[4] the green carpetweed[5] (also known as Indian chickweed[6]), is a rapidly spreading annual plant from tropical America.

[8] The plant will grow and sprawl across the soil due to its habit of prostrate growth and form mats.

[10][11][12] Advances in molecular genetic sequencing has improved understandings of the taxonomic relationship in the family Molluginaceae which had previously not been as inclusive.

[19] There is agreement among some studies that the carpetweed origin is from the New World tropics and it spread into more temperate zones afterwards.

[9] Along with Glinus (Molluginaceae), Mollugo are edible plants that have historically been utilized as vegetables or for medicinal benefits.

[14] The family Molluginaceae has been studied for its therapeutic characteristics due to the production of triterpenes saponins and flavonoids[citation needed].

European movements were not the cause of this migration because carbon dating reveals that the plant was in the Little Tennessee river valley 3000 years ago.

Carpetweed, also referred to as "Indian chickweed", was utilized as a potherb by the indigenous peoples of Southern Appalachia.

[23] Other accounts cite the weed as being native to the Continental US, Caribbean territories, Mexico and introduced to Canada.