Hydrocotyle L.

1. Hydrocotyle L. 1

Perennial. Stipules present. Inflorescence a simple umbel, or flowers in whorls. Fruit ovoid-ellipsoid to suborbicular, strongly compressed laterally; fruit-wall with a woody inner layer. Carpophore absent. Ridges prominent to obsolete; vittae conspicuous to obsolete.

All species occur in marshy ground or in shallow water.

1 Leaves with a deep basal sinus 2 Petioles 2-3 mm thick, very soft and ± fleshy 1. ranunculoides 2 Petioles less than 1 mm thick 3 Leaves glabrous or rarely with scattered hairs; umbel 3- to 10-flowered; lateral ridges of fruit prominent

4. sibthorpioides

3 Leaves usually hispid to pubescent; umbel 10- to 20-flowered; lateral ridges of fruit conspicuous but not prominent

5. moschata

1 Leaves peltate 4 Inflorescence of whorled branches which bear whorls of flowers; fruit distinctly pedicellate 2. bonariensis

4 Inflorescence simple (rarely branched); flowers in whorls; fruit nearly sessile 3. vulgaris