Araliaceae

Hydrocotyle ranunculoides

Common Names: Hydrocotyl

Plant Form: Perennial semi-aquatic mat-forming herb. Size: Up to 40 cm above water or mud surface. Stem: Creep in mud forming thick masses. Leaves: Circular to kidney shaped, dark green, with 3-11 deep or shallow lobes. Flowers: Tiny greenish, yellowish or white with 5 petals, 2-3 mm diameter under leaves in umbrella shaped clusters. Fruit and Seeds: Circular and flattened, greenish brown, 1-3 mm long and divided into 2 one-seeded sections. Habitat: Wetlands, lakes, dams. Distinguishing Features: Shiny leaf underside compared to lookalike Largeleaf pennywort Hydrocotyle bonariensis. Impacts: Reduces water quality, outcompetes native vegetation, reduces habitat for native animals, and impacts water access.

Size of leaves

Leaves can float

Leaves can also rise up on stalks