Practical
Plants

Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides

Water Pennywort

a perennial member of the Hydrocotyle genus in the family Umbelliferae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.1 m
Spread
0.3 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The whole plant is eaten raw or cooked as a potherb[9][2][4]. It has a parsley-like aroma[4].

Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Depurative, febrifuge. Resolves mucus formation[3]. The juice of the plant is used in the treatment of fevers[7]. A paste made from the plant is applied externally to wounds and boils[7]. 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[6]. It is a Chinese herbal drug for hepatoma[6].

Product or use
Depurative
Product or use
Febrifuge

Environment

Range
E. Asia - Japan.
Habitat
Shady places in lowland areas of C. and S. Japan[8].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
high
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a permanently moist position in sun or light shade[5]. Plants are occasionally found as weeds in damp lawns[1].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

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  3. ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X

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  4. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

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  6. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2

  7. Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. 2002-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-527-6

    ↩1↩2

  8. Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00

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  9. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

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