Forest Pennywort

Appearance

Creeping or climbing herb, stems lax, diffuse, to several metres long, rooting at nodes near base.

Leaves deeply palmatisect, to c. 80 mm diam.; segments 3–5-lobed, segments lanceolate to narrow-lanceolate, to 5 cm long, apex attenuate, teeth often bristly; hispid along midvein and primary lateral veins of upper surface, otherwise glabrous, occasionally with a few scattered hairs on the lower surface; petiole to 10–20 cm long, ± scabrous; stipules membranous and fringed.

Umbels simple, leaf-opposed, usually 15–20-flowered, 4–8 mm diam.; peduncle 2.5–5 cm long; pedicels 2–3 mm long, hairy at base. Petals white.

Dorsal rib of fruit extending into a narrow wing, lateral ribs prominent, surfaces between ribs and circular depression at centre tuberculate or glabrous, 2–2.5 mm long, 3.5–3.8 mm wide, notched at base.

Distribution

Australia

Habitat

Grows in shaded areas of wet sclerophyll forest, often on hillsides on a variety of soils.