Java pennywort
Hydrocotyle javanica

Family: Araliaceae

What it is like

A soft herb. It grows as a ground cover. It has erect pieces up to 15-45 cm. The leaf stalks point upwards and are 4-25 cm long. The leaf blade is round or kidney shaped. They are 5 cm by 8 cm. They are heart shaped at the base. They have shallow lobes like fingers on a hand. The flowers are at the nodes and occur as many closely together. The flowers are greenish-white. The fruit are reddish-brown. They are about 1 mm long.

There are about 130 Hydrocotyle species. Also put in the family Apiaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. In Fiji it grows in dense forest between 300-600 m altitude. In Northeastern India it grows between 1,000-2,200 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Fiji, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pacific, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Thailand

How it is used for food

Caution: Seeds are poisonous. The leaves are boiled and eaten as a vegetable and also used for tea. They are sun-dried for a drink.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Plants are grown from suckers.

First harvest can occur 90 days after planting. Then harvests can be at 60 day intervals. It can be harvested for 2-3 years.

Its other names

Local names

Khochade, Maha-gotukola, Malai vallarai, Othu, Pegaga gajah, Pegagan, Sano ghortapre, Tubo aek, Tubo aie, Vallari, Zupha

Synonyms

Hydrocotyla heyneana Wall.; Hydrocotyle hispida D. Don; Hydrocotyle nepalensis Hook.; Hydrocotyle polycephala Wight & Arn.; Hydrocotyle strigosa Buch.-Ham.; Hydrocotyle zeylanica DC.;