Pennywort, Marsh pennywort
Hydrocotyle vulgaris
Family: Araliaceae
What it is like
A slender creeping herb. It has a thin trailing stem which forms roots along it. It is 10-40 cm long. The leaves are hairy underneath. They are 0.8-4 cm across. The leaf stalk joins the leaf blade in the centre of the leaf. The flowers are small. They are white or pink and on long stalks. The fruit are rounded and 2 mm across. They are ridged.
There are about 130 Hydrocotyle species. Also put in the family Apiaceae.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It grows well along the edges of ponds.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Australia, Britain, Europe, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, Netherlands, North Africa, Portugal, Spain
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Leaves