Hydrocotyle acutiloba (F.Muell.) N.A.Wakef.

Araliaceae

Wakefield, N.A. (1951) The Victorian Naturalist 68: 7.

Pennywort

Stems stoloniferous (creeping rhizomes) rooting at the nodes. Plant forming a mat.

Petioles 10-30 mm long. Leaf blades ca. orbicular to reniform, 8-17 mm diam., Stipules or stipule-like growths present at the base of each petiole. Stipules orbicular, ca. 1.5 mm diam, becoming quite papery with age. Lamina margins toothed, sometimes ciliate.

Inflorescences axillary or leaf-opposed. Each inflorescence consists of 6-20 flowers opening 2-3 at any time. Peduncles 10-15 mm long. Individual flowers almost sessile or very shortly stalked. Flowers ca.2 mm diam. Tepals ovate or triangular, 0.6-1 x 0.5 mm. Anthers ca. 0.1 mm long, filaments ca. 0.5 mm long. Ovary 0.5-0.8 mm long, laterally compressed, somewhat bilobed. Styles 2, each ca. 0.3 mm long, styles curved inwards towards one another.

Fruits ca. 1.5 x 2 mm, laterally compressed, clothed in short stiff hairs. Fruits usually consist of 2 mericarps each containing one seed. Styles or remnants persistent at the apex.

Features not available.

An introduced species, occurs in NEQ, CEQ and southwards through south-eastern Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Occurs in the understory of  vine forest, closed forest, Eucalyptus forest and swampy places.

Common garden weed

Hydrocotyle hirta var. acutiloba F.Muell., Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae 4(27): 181(1864), Type: in Australia orientali subtropica septentrionem versus saltem usque ad flumina Fitzroys et Dawsons River extendit.