Floating Pennywort

Hydrocotyle ranunculoides

Family:
Apiaceae

Lifecycle:
Perennial

Native or Introduced:
Native

Nutrient Removal Rating:
Low

Wildlife Value:
Low

Invasiveness:
Medium

Rooted or Floating:
Floating

Site Requirements:
Full sun

Maximum Water Depth:
n/a

Plant Description:
Floating pennywort is an herbaceous perennial. It produces tangled, air-filled-horizontal stems that that root heavily at the nodes. Stems are round and light green to cream in color. This plant typically forms large colonies in muddy soils or on bodies of water.

Leaves develop from these stems with petioles measuring 6-12 inches in length. Petioles attach to the center of the leaf blades. Venation radiates from the point of petiole attachment. Blades are rounded with heavily notched margins and can measure 3 inches across.

Flowers are small, light green, and star shaped with 5 petals. Flowering stalks terminate in umbels (0.5 inch diameter) of 5-13 flowers.

This plant can be distinguished from water pennywort by differences in leaf characteristics. Floating pennywort leaves have pink disks at location of petiole attachment.

Sources:

• Audlbach-Smith, C.A., deKozlowski, S.J. 1996. Aquatic and Wetland Plants of South Carolina. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

Additional reading:

• USDA