Hydrocotyle ranunculoides
| Hydrocotyle ranunculoides | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Apiales |
| Family: | Apiaceae |
| Genus: | Hydrocotyle |
| Species: | H. ranunculoides |
| Binomial name | |
| Hydrocotyle ranunculoides L. f. | |
Hydrocotyle ranunculoides, known commonly as water pennywort, floating pennywort, or floating marshpennywort, is an aquatic plant in the family Apiaceae. It is native to North and South America and parts of Africa. In the United Kingdom it is an invasive alien species which is currently spreading in waterways.[1][2][3] It is one of five aquatic plants which are to be banned from sale in the UK from April 2014. This is the first prohibition of its kind in the country.[4] Water pennywort is also a weed in Australia. On the other hand, it is a threatened species in parts of its native range in the United States.[5]
Water pennywort has stems that spread horizontally and can float on water.[6] Leaves grow on petioles up to 35 cm long, and are round to kidney-shaped, with 3–7 lobes and crenate to entire margins.[7] Flowers are small, pale greenish white to pale yellow, and come in umbels of 5–13.[6] Fruits are small achenes that can float, helping the seeds to disperse.[6]
References
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- ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21232108
- ↑ USDA Plants Profile
- 1 2 3 "Water Pennywort". Retrieved 16 December 2012.
- ↑ "H. ranunculoides". Jepson Manual. University of California. Retrieved 16 December 2012.