Hydrocotyle digitata A.R.Bean & Henwood APNI* Description: Perennial herb with creeping stems, mostly rooting at the nodes. Stipules broader than long, 1.2–2 mm long, 1.5–2.5 mm wide, brown-streaked, margin entire or fimbricate.
Leaves trifoliate, 13–30 mm across. occuring singularly at the nodes. Petioles 50–130 mm long, with 10–30 white and brown retrorse hairs at the apex or sometimes extending along the petiole, rarely glabrous. Lamina narrow-cuneate, 6.5–15 mm long, 7–15 mm wide; upper surface bright green, glabrous or with 1–5 erect white trichomes; lower surface pale green, moderately hairy, with 20–50 white trichomes. Central leaflet 3-lobed, each lobe divided into 3 lobules, often with a small acute tooth; lateral leaflets with 19–28 teeth, two lobes divided into 3–4 lobules, each 2–4 toothed.
Inflorescences simple, umbellate, 10–13-flowered, peduncles 4–9 mm long. Calyx absent. Petals white or purple, deltate, 0.5–0.7 mm long. Styles 2.
Fruits comprising two laterally compressed mericarps, 0.9–1.2 mm long, 0.6–0.9 mm wide; dorsal and lateral ribs acute, marginal ribs obscure; surface smooth. Fruiting pedicles 0.3–1.5 mm long.
Flowering: Flowers and fruits between October and January.
Distribution and occurrence: Known in New South Wales form near Guyra; in the Warwick district in south east Queensland to the Atheron Tableland in north Queensland. Occurs in altitudes above 500 metres, in moist to swampy areas in eucalypt woodland.
NSW subdivisions: NC
Other Australian states: Qld
From the latin digitatus meaning digitate or finger-like. Formerly in Apiaceae.
Text by Louisa Murray
Taxon concept: Bean, A.R. & Henwood, M.J.(2003) Six new species of Hydrocotyle L. (Apiaceae) from Queensland. Austrobaileya 6(3): 543-544.
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
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