Marsh Pennywort

Hydrocotyle umbellata

Alternate names
Water Pennywort

Weed Description
A perennial aquatic weed that spreads out horizontally forming dense mats in shallow water, mud, or in marshes.

Leaves
Alternately arranged, round in outline, smooth, and often shiny. Leaf margins have rounded teeth and each leaf occurs on a petiole that may reach 6 inches in length. Leaf blades may reach 2 inches in width and are bright green in color and have veins that originate from the central point of the leaf.

Stems
Stems are capable of rooting at the nodes but also may be floating. Stems are approximately 1/4 inch in diameter.

Flowers
Occur in clusters that form an umbrella-like head. Individual flowers are very small and consist of 5 white petals but many flowers occur together in a single cluster.

Identifying Characteristics
Aquatic perennial with round leaves that have scalloped margins. Additionally, the umbrella-like heads of small white flowers helps to distinguish this plant from most others. Marsh pennywort is very similar to Water Pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides), however water pennywort has a distinctive red spot in the center of the leaves unlike marsh pennywort.

Office of Programs

University of Missouri

Marsh Pennywort

Hydrocotyle umbellata