Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides

Lawn marshpennywort
The lawn marshpennywort
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Apiales
Family:	Araliaceae
Genus:	Hydrocotyle
Species:	H. sibthorpioides
Binomial name
Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides Lam.
Synonyms[1]
Chondrocarpus sibthorpioides Sweet Hydrocotyle keelungensis Liu, Chao & Chuang Hydrocotyle monticola Hook. f. Hydrocotyle rotundifolia Roxb. ex DC. Hydrocotyle tenella Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don Hydrocotyle tuberifera Ohwi

Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides is a small plant native to southeastern Asia. It is also referred to as lawn marshpennywort.^[2] Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides is a small dicot plant placed in the family Apiaceae. The common name for this plant is lawn marshpennywort, however there are several other synonyms used to identify H. sibthorpioides. It grows in great abundance when the conditions are right. Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides originates in southeastern Asia but is slowly spreading in the United States along with other places around the world. It can grow in a wide variety of habitats. This plant has been used for several medical purposes in Asia.

Description

Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides is a dicot. The leaves width range from 0.5–2 cm. It has a moderate growth rate.^[3] The Hydrocotlye sibthorpioides produces small flowers. The flowers bloom between October and March. The flowers are a very faint yellow with just a small hint of purple.^[4] Flower clusters are simple and flat-topped or rounded. Involucral bracts Inconspicuous bracts at the base of each flower. Indistinct sepals. The leaves are simple, with small leafy outgrowth at the base, kidney shaped to round. Leaf edges are scalloped The leaves for H. sibthorpioides are broad and alternate. The peltate leaves are often described as egg shaped, all of the leaves are hairless and often have five to seven shallow lobes around the edge. Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides do have fruits that are flat and the break in half when the plant reaches maturity. Once the fruit has broken open there is one seed on each side.^[5] The fruits are elliptical to round with thin ridges and no oil tubes (vitta) which is characteristic in the fruit of umbelliferous plants.^[6]

Taxonomy

Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides is within the family Apiaceae.^[7] A moleculary phylogeny shows H. sibthorpioides closely related to H. americana, H. bonariensis, H. bowlesioides, H. hirsute, and H. umbellata among others.^[8]

Distribution and habitat

Hydrocoytle sibthorpioides is most commonly found in southeastern Asia. Although is native to Asia, there are parts of the United States that this species thrives as an introduced species, particularly in the eastern US and some areas in California.^[9] Recently, H. sibthorpioides has reported to flourish in Australia. It occurs from in southeast Australia from Brisbane and Sydney. However it is not found in Western Australia.^[10] This plant is able to grow in a wide variety of habitats including dry areas to locations occasionally submerged under water. It can also be found between sidewalk cracks and is increasing occurrence as a lawn weed.^[11]

Culture

In order for the plant to reach its full growth it must be able to have full sunlight light.^[12] There are several factors that go into the cultural habitat of Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides. The most important aspect of this plant is that is needs a lot of light, without excess light H. sibthorpioides cannot efficiently grow. It can tolerate temperatures between 10-30 degrees Celsius but grows best when the temperature stays between 20-28 degrees Celsius. It has a pH soil preference that ranges from five to seven. The propagation for this plant is mostly by cuttings.^[13]

Conservation status

The conservation status for Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides is of least concern, it continues to grow and spread throughout the United States along with other regions of the world such as Australia.^[14]

Medical uses

Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides is used to cure asthma in areas of Nepal. Whereas Bengali villagers use the entire plant to help heal bone fractures.indicating that that using Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides was just as effective as using modern medicine.^[15] In another research article where scientist studied whether Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides helps with HBV, it also states that the plant extract is used to treat edema, fever, detoxication, throat pain, psoriasis, and the hepatitis B virus.^[16]

References