Citation: Forster & Forster f., Char. Gen. Pl. 40, t. 20 (1776).

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: Tom Thumb, kidney weed.

Description:
Greyish-pubescent perennial with creeping stems rooting at the nodes; leaves on long petioles, reniform to oblong-orbicular, 5-25 mm long, rounded to emarginate, base cordate.

Flowers axillary, solitary; peduncle absent; bracteoles subulate, c. 0.5 mm long; pedicel filiform, shorter than the petioles; sepals oblong, elliptic to obovate, obtuse to barely acute, 1.5-3 mm long, increasing to 4 mm at fruiting, shortly united at the base; corolla rotate, a pale greenish-yellow, glabrous, shorter or slightly longer than the calyx, with a short tube less than 1 mm long and longer ovate-elliptic lobes; stamens 5, inserted on the rim between the corolla lobes; filaments short, glabrous; ovary divided to the base into 2 cells; styles 10-15 mm long, arising from between the cells; stigma capitate.

Capsules 2, more or less free, pilose, opening irregularly; seeds 1 or 2 per cell.

Published illustration: Cochrane et al. (1968) Flowers and plants of Victoria, fig. 31; Cunningham et al. (1982) Plants of western New South Wales, p. 559.

Distribution:  Mainly in woodlands and grasslands; weed of lawns. S.Aust.: FR, EP, NL, MU, YP, SL, KI, SE.   W.Aust.; Qld; N.S.W.; Vic.; Tas.   southern Pacific. Conservation status: native Flowering time: throughout the year, mainly Oct. — Jan.

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