Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides Lam.

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Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides

Photo: Bart Wursten
SRGH

Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides

Photo: Bart Wursten
SRGH

Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides

Photo: Bart Wursten
John Meikle Forestry Reserve, Stapleford

Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides

Photo: Bart Wursten
John Meikle Forestry Reserve, Stapleford

Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides

Photo: Bart Wursten
John Meikle Forestry Reserve, Stapleford

Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides

Photo: Bart Wursten
John Meikle Forestry Reserve, Stapleford

Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides

Photo: Bart Wursten
John Meikle Forestry Reserve, Stapleford

Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides

Photo: Bart Wursten
John Meikle Forestry Reserve, Stapleford

Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides

Photo: Bart Wursten
Along path to Mt Binga above Nhamadzi River crossing, Chimanimani National Reserve

Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides

Photo: Bart Wursten
Along path to Mt Binga above Nhamadzi River crossing, Chimanimani National Reserve

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms: Hydrocotyle confusa H. Wolff
Hydrocotyle monticola Hook. f.
Hydrocotyle nitidula A. Rich.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status: Native
Description:
Delicate creeping perennial herb, rooting at the nodes. Leaves singly or in clusters of 2-3 at the nodes, small, kidney-shaped in outline, 5-7-lobed, narrowly cordate at the base; hairless above, with some crisped hairs below, particularly when young; margin coarsely toothed. Petiole up to 40 mm long. Flowers in axillary, 3-10-flowered umbels, greenish. Fruit, 1.5 × 1 mm, greenish to yellowish-brown, broadly ellipsoid, laterally compressed, notched at the apex.
Type location:
Mauritius
Notes: Easily distinguished from other species in this genus by the consistently much smaller size of the leaves.
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat: In marshy areas
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution: Widespread in the Old World tropics. Introduced and naturalized in the Americas.
FZ divisions: E
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated: Saturday 12 January 2019
Literature:

Cannon, J.F.M. (1978). Apiaceae Flora Zambesiaca 4 Pages 559 - 561.

Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 32.

Fischer, E. & Killmann, D. (2008). Illustrated Field guide to the Plants of Nyungwe National Park Rwanda. University of Koblenz-Landau. Page 742. (Includes a picture).

Goodier, R. & Phipps, J.B. (1961). A revised checklist of the vascular plants of the Chimanimani Mountains Kirkia 1 Page 60.

Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 18.

Maquet, P. (1983). Apiaceae Flore du Rwanda Spermatophytes Volume II Page 562. (Includes a picture).

Meerts, P. (2024). Araliaceae Sous-famille II. Hydrocotyloideae Flore d'Afrique Centrale Nouvelle Serie Jardin Botanique Meise, Belgique Pages 14 - 15. (Includes a picture).

Ntore, S. & al. (2024). Checklist of the vascular plants of Burundi Page 50.

Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 42.

Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 87.


Other sources of information about Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides:

Our websites:

Flora of Burundi: Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides
Flora of the DRC: Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides
Flora of Malawi: Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides
Flora of Mozambique: Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides
Flora of Rwanda: Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides
Flora of Zambia: Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides
African Plant Database: Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides
JSTOR Plant Science: Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides
Plants of the World Online: Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides
Tropicos: Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides
Wikipedia: Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-26

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2026). Flora of Zimbabwe: Species information: Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=142960, retrieved 26 May 2026

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