Hairy penywort
Hydrocotyle hirta
Family: Araliaceae
What it is like
A herb which keeps growing from year to year. The stems lie along the ground. They form roots at the nodes. It grows 10-50 cm high. The creeping stems are mainly above the ground. The leaves are hairy on both surfaces. They are rounded or kidney shaped and 6-25 mm across. They have lobes. The flowers are very small and clustered. There are more than 14 in a head. The fruit have very short styles attached.
There are about 130 Hydrocotyle species. Also put in the family Apiaceae.
Where it is found
It grows in warm temperate places. It grows in moist, shady places. It grows along stream banks and in swamps and coastal shrub. Tasmania Herbarium.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Australia, Lord Howe Island, Malaysia, SE Asia, Tasmania
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Leaves