Flora of New Zealand Series

hydrocotyle

Perennial, forming large patches; stems stout or slender. Lvs simple, glabrous to densely hairy above and below, dull green, greenish brown or bright glossy green, 5-35 mm diam., divided to ⅕-⅓ of radius into 5-7 segments; segments triangular to broadly oblong-obovate, each again sometimes obscurely 3-lobed and toothed; teeth crenate or serrate, sometimes with short hair tips; margins flat; petiole with a few retrorse hairs near blade to densely hairy. Umbels simple, 5-many-flowered; peduncle < or ± = lvs. Fls subsessile or shortly pedicellate. Fr. glabrous, (1.8)-2-3.5 × 1.8-2.5 mm, usually rounded on dorsal edge; ribs usually slightly engraved into surface of mature fr., rarely slightly raised.

N.; S.; St.; Ch., M.

Endemic, at least in part.

Common throughout from lowland swamps and dunes to alpine habitats.

A very varied assemblage of plants has been known under this name in N.Z. The group is still under revision and probably includes as many as 6 distinct taxa.