Common Name: Water Pennywort

General Information

Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides is a low-growing perennial plant that only reaches a height of 10cm, but spreads to form clumps 30cm or more wide.
The plant is gathered from the wild for local use as a food and medicine.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Widespread in tropical and subtropical areas of Africa, Indian subcontinent, China, Japan, Korea, through southeast Asia to eestern Australia

Habitat

Shady places in lowland areas of C. and S. Japan[]. Stream banks or forests in wet grassy places; at elevations from 400 - 3,000 metres in China[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.10 m
Pollinators	Insects
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a permanently moist position in sun or light shade[].
Plants are occasionally found as weeds in damp lawns[].
There is at least one named variety[].

Edible Uses

The whole plant is eaten raw or cooked as a potherb[, , ]. It has a parsley-like aroma[].

Medicinal

Depurative, febrifuge. Resolves mucus formation[]. The juice of the plant is used in the treatment of fevers[]. A paste made from the plant is applied externally to wounds and boils[].

The plant is decocted and used in the treatment of abscesses, boils, bruises, cirrhosis, colds, coughs, hepatitis, hepatoma, influenza, itch, jaundice, sinusitis and sore throat[]. It is a Chinese herbal drug for hepatoma[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing it in early spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Division of rooted runners. Probably best done in spring but can be done at any time in the growing season if the plants are kept moist.