(1) of a plant, with a very flat and soil-hugging habit; (2) a term applied to describe a plant that covers the soil surface so densely that it smothers all beneath it. Found on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_botanical_terms
Groundcover refers to any plant that grows over an area of ground, used to provide protection from erosion and drought, and to improve its aesthetic appearance (by concealing bare earth). == Ecosystem == In an ecosystem, the ground cover is the layer of vegetation below the shrub layer. The most widespread ground covers are grasses of various type... Found on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundcover