Hydrocotyle laxiflora
Stinking Pennywort
Lax hairy perennial herb forming loose mats, rooting at leaf nodes.
Additional information
- FamilyAraliaceae (revised from Apiaceae)
- StoreyLower storey
- Size10-40 cm x 1-2 m
- Plant groupingHerbs & Groundcovers <1m
- LeavesRound to kidney-shaped leaves 8-50 mm across with 5-11 scalloped lobes. Leaves stand erect on long stalks 1-13 cm long.
- Flower colourPale greenish-yellow
- Flowering timeOctober to December
- FlowersMale and female flowers on separate plants. Round cluster of 30-50 shortly-stalked tiny flowers on a long stalk. Flowers produce an offensive odour.
- Bird attractingNo
- Butterfly attractingNo
- Frog habitatYes
- Growing conditionsDryish to moist well drained soils in open sites of dry forests. Semi shade to partial shade.
- Garden useColoniser of disturbed areas. Grow in shady sites.
- Commercially availableNever
- Conservation statusLocally common within its preferred growing conditions
- Related speciesVery similar to Hydrocotyle hirta and indistinguishable without flowers. The individual flowers of H. hirta are stalkless, forming a tight ball.
Photo Gallery
Photographer/s: 1 Swee Oon ©; 2, 3 Richard Hartland ©; 4 Helen Moss ©
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