Centella asiatica (L.) Urb.

Stiff Spadeleaf; Coinleaf; Erect Spadeleaf

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Stiff Spadeleaf is a native herbaceous perennial in the Carrot family (Apiaceae). It is native to the southeastern United States, Central America, the Indian subcontinent, and portions of Southeast Asia. In Alabama it can be found in the southern third of the state. Stiff Spadeleaf occurs in bogs, in wet ditches, around the margins of ponds, and in wet lawns. It is a perennial with a long creeping stolon, rooting at the nodes. Leaves are clustered at the nodes, petiolate, reniform in outline, glabrous or pubescent, with dentate margins. The leaves are held stiffly erect. Flowers are produced in umbels of 2-6 flowers. Individual flowers lack sepals, but are partly enclosed in 2 bracts. Each flower has 5-6 triangular greenish white petals. The fruit is schizocarp consisting of 2 mericarps. The mericarps are flattened with 7-9 ribs. Stiff Spadeleaf is used in herbal medicine under the name Gota Kola. It is also eaten in many Asian counties either raw or cooked. Stiff Spadeleaf is a somewhat weedy species and is not usually available from native plant nurseries. Some nurseries that sell herbal plants occasionally carry it. It prefers a loamy or sandy soil that is moist or wet, and full sunlight. Any rooted section of the plant can be used for propagation.--A. Diamond

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Native FACW (NWPL) T (WAP) FACW (DEP)

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