Pennywort
Family: UMBELLIFERAE
Genus:
Hydrocotyle
Species: bonariensis
Climate: Found
on coastal dunes and headlands throughout south eastern Australia.
Prefers warm climates and grows in sandy soil. Likes sunny positions and
dry conditions.
Description: A
low growing herb up to 10 cm tall with horizontal stems that extend
considerable distances under the sand.
Leaves: The
leaves are circular, up to 6 cm across, glossy and attached to the stalk
in the centre of the blade.
Flower: The
flowers are small, stalked, cream to white and are massed on leafless
stems, which sometimes have several branches at each joint or at the
end. Flowers spring/summer.
Stems: Stems
are round and fleshy
Roots: Very
small roots which are fine and hair like. They appear at intervals
usually at the point where a stem extends a leaf sunwards. The roots
grow from a main stem of which leaf stems grow up out of the sand.
Control:
Hand weed at the first sign of weed. When infestation is to large to
practically hand weed then chemical control is required. There are
numerous chemicals available to control this weed and they should be
available at your local plant nursery. The application requirements are
varied for each different turf variety. Be sure to read the entire
chemical label for directions for safe use, handling, the application
rate etc.
