Common name: Shield Pennywort
Hydrocotyle verticillata Thunb. APNI*
Description: Perennial herb, glabrous, with rhizomes; stems creeping and rooting at the nodes.
Leaves single or in clusters of 2 or 3 from the rhizomes, peltate; lamina circular, mostly 20–40 mm diam., margins crenate, lamina glabrous; petiole to 25 cm long, slender; stipules not evident.
Inflorescence simple or a once or twice interrupted spike or compound umbel with 2–7 whorls; flowers 2–5, ± sessile, each subtended by a minute bract; peduncle to 10 cm long or about half as long as the petiole. Petals creamy-yellow.
Fruit transversely broad-ellipsoid, flattened laterally, slightly broad cuneate at the base, c. 2 mm long, 2.5–3 mm wide; dorsal and intermediate ribs of mericarps filiform, prominent; lateral ribs inconspicuous.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in freshwater swamps, lagoons and along streams and rivers, sometimes partially submerged, recorded on the Georges R.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, CT, ST
Other Australian states: Qld Vic. S.A.
Formerly in Apiaceae.
Text by S. M. Hastings & B. M. Wiecek
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 3 (1992)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
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