water pennyworts

Hydrocotyle

Water pennyworts are small, round plants that grow in wet areas like ponds and marshes. They have shiny green leaves that look like little coins floating on the water!

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The water pennyworts has round, coin-shaped leaves that float on water or rise from wet ground. Its bright green leaves are typically notched at the base, and it produces tiny, unassuming white to greenish-white flowers in small clusters.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderApialesFamilyAraliaceaeGenusHydrocotyle

Photo: Forest & Kim StarrCC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsView original ↗

water pennyworts

Interesting facts

In some cultures, young water pennywort leaves are eaten in salads!

It can absorb extra nutrients from the water, acting like a natural filter!

Its leaves look like tiny green coins, inspiring its 'pennywort' name!

Some types are grown in aquariums as pretty underwater decorations.

Special abilities

Water pennyworts can form dense mats, creating floating islands that provide shelter for small aquatic animals.

It has special air-filled tissues (aerenchyma) in its stems, helping it float and get oxygen in muddy environments.

Water pennyworts can grow new plants from tiny stem fragments, allowing it to quickly colonize new wet areas.

Measurements & details

Height: 5-20 cm
Spread: 30-100 cm
Flower Size: 0.1-0.3 cm
Bloom Season: Late spring to fall
Edible: Yes
Toxicity: None
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

Eaten by

Mallard

Anas platyrhynchos

Waterfowl eat its leaves and seeds.

Eats

Great Pond Snail

Lymnaea stagnalis

Snails graze on its soft foliage.

Shelter

Green Frog

Rana clamitans

Dense mats provide hiding spots for frogs.

Shelter

Common Green Darner

Anax junius

Nymphs hide among its submerged stems.

Traits

Flowering

Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.

Ornamental

Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.

Edible

Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.

Freshwater

Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species.

Aquatic

Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Plants

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always wash your hands after touching plants, just to be safe!

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify water pennyworts?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

How tall is water pennyworts?

5-20 cm

How wide does water pennyworts spread?

30-100 cm

How big are the flowers on water pennyworts?

0.1-0.3 cm

When does water pennyworts bloom?

Late spring to fall

Is water pennyworts edible?

Yes

Is water pennyworts toxic?

None