Citation: Hydrocotyle cordifolia Hook. f., Hook. Ic. 4:t. 303 (1840); H. asiatica sensu J. Black, Fl. S. Aust. 653 (1952), non L.; C. asiatica sensu Jessop, List Vasc. Pl. S. Aust. edn 2:47 (1984), non (L.)Urban.

Synonymy: Hydrocotyle cordifolia

Common name: Centella, heart-leaved pennywort.

Description:
Perennial herb with creeping branches, rooting at the nodes; leaf blades cordate, entire, sinuate or faintly crenate, 1-3 cm long, mostly longer than broad to as broad as long, with 5-7 nerves, usually glabrescent and finally glabrous; petiole 1-5 times as long as the blade, with sheathing broadened base with scarious margins, glabrous or pubescent, often purplish tinted.

Umbels subsessile or short-pedunculate, usually 2- or 3-flowered; involucral bracts narrow-ovate, c. 3 mm long; flowers usually on short pedicels; sepals forming a minutely lobed persistent ring; petals ovate, c. 1.5 mm long, purple; anthers almost spherical, deep-purple.

Fruit c. 2.5-3 mm long, 4-5 mm broad, brown, laterally compressed, dorsal edges rounded, glabrous or with some hairs near the apex; mericarps with 5 distinct longitudinal ribs which are reticulately connected by weaker ones.

Published illustration: J.D. Hooker (1840) Hook. 1c. 4:t. 303.

Distribution:  In moist places, in or near fresh-water swamps. S.Aust.: FR, EP, NL, SL, KI, SE.   W.Aust.; Vic.; Tas. Conservation status: native Flowering time: Dec. — March.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available