Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides Lam.

Lawn Pennywort; Lawn Water Pennywort; Lawn Marsh Pennywort

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Lawn Pennywort is an introduced herbaceous perennial in the Ginseng family (Araliaceae). It is native to southeast Asia. In Alabama it can be found at scattered sites across the state. It grows in a wide variety of habitats, from dry areas to wetlands, but most often occurs as a lawn weed. Lawn Pennywort is a perennial with creeping, matted stems that root at the nodes. The stems are thin, green in color, and frequently branch. Leaves are petiolate, blades basifixed, reniform or orbicular in outline, with crenate or 5-7 shallowly lobed margins. There are usually 2 leaves per node. The leaves are usually glabrous on the upper surface and glabrous or sparsely pubescent on the lower surface. All parts of the plant are strongly aromatic when crushed. Flower are produced in 5-10 flowered umbels. The umbels are solitary in the leaf axils. The peduncle is longer than the petiole of the adjacent leaf. The purplish-green flowers are inconspicuous. Individual flowers have five petals and yellow glands on the petals and bracts. The fruit is dry, flattened, and circular, containing two seeds that split apart. The fruit has prominent ribs. Lawn Pennywort is sold as a pool or aquarium plant. In Asia it has been used in traditional medicine.—A. Diamond

**

Not Native

**