Centella asiatica (L.) Urb.

Urban, I. in Martius, C.F.P. von (1879) Flora Brasiliensis 11(1): 287, t. 78, fig. 1.

Gotu Kola; Pennywort

Stems creep over the soil surface and produce roots at the nodes.

Petiole 100-150 mm long, base winged and partly sheathing the stem. Leaf blades 30-50 mm diam., leaf blade underside clothed in very fine, web-like hairs. Veins 5-6, radiating from the base.

Inflorescence umbellate with 1-4-6 flowers in each umbel. Peduncle 8-12 mm long. Flowers about 3 mm diam. Calyx absent. Petals ephemeral, obovate to orbicular, 0.8-1 mm diam. Ovary bilobed, laterally compressed, about 2 x 2.5 mm, mainly red except for two green glands at the apex. Styles 2. Stigmas 2.

Fruits 3-4 x 4 mm, laterally compressed and consisting of two mericarps. Seeds about 3-4 x 2 mm, surface ornamented with longitudinal lines. Embryo minute.

Features not available.

Occurs in NT, CYP, NEQ and CEQ, and widespread in southern Australia. Grows mainly in damp places in swamps and various types of forest from 0-1000 m altitude.

A weed of disturbed moist places.