An old sceptic conservative work colleague dropped in over the weekend and asked me what I knew about pennywort.. Said it was the marvel on everyone’s lips.

My answer was, which plant do you refer to?

He said a bloke like you shouldn’t need to rush to the internet to find out.

I said, “that’s likely true and I’ve probably got it growing as a weed in my garden, which is why I asked you which plant you are referring to”.

He said “it is the bees knees for preventing aging and arthritis.. blah blah”

Common names are odd things in that they are similar to words like conservative.. that can mean whatever you want them to mean.

So, what do those of you whom are interested know or believe about pennywort?

A pennywort refers to a number of herbaceous plants in the Apiaceae family (formally Umbelliferae in Australia). Presumably the penny refers to the leaf shape and size of many of these plants and wort is an old English name for plant (especially herbaceous ones).

These plants commonly grow in moist areas around swamps and drainage areas and no doubt some would be edible, although certainly not all are palatable based on the lack of interest from grazing animals. You probably need to ask your local witch for nutritional information.

The health benefits of the pennywort plant were acknowledged many centuries ago for the treatment of various conditions.
Pennywort is a perennial herb that originates in moist areas. It is native to India, Sri Lanka, Northern Australia as well as a few other areas in Asia. Pennywort is also known as centella asiatica, gotu kola, asiatic and indian pennywort, brahmi, marsh pennywort, common pennywort, waternavel, sombrevillo de aqua, bachelor’s buttons and penny grass. The various names contribute to the region and language it is being used in around the world.

This herb works by averting a disorderly manner of the absorption of nutrition and corrects this process through an improved progression of digestion of nutrients. Pennywort has properties of being antibacterial, anti-viral, and anti- inflammatory. It contains vitamins B1, B2, B3, and B6 as well as the minerals, calcium, magnesium, sodium, manganese, and zinc.

The benefits of pennywort tea are numerous and many people use this tea as a health tonic. Maintaining youth and the treatment of arthritis are its most popular use. It is recongized as a longivity herb because of its ability to help rebuild connective tissue, which in turn, can slow the aging process. Plus, it has been commended as a great antidote for improving memory and, therefore, considered food for the brain. Studies have indicated by consuming 2-4 raw pennywort leaves a day may help sharpen alertness and memory and rejuvenate the brain. There is important research being conducted to observe the effects this herb can have on those suffering with Alzheimer’s disease.

The central nervous system can receive amazing benefits with the consumption of pennywort. This herb works well in relaxing the mind and can assist in certain nervous disorders, senility, strokes, ADD, and epilepsy. It can be utilized as a nerve tonic when coping with mental stress and fatigue and encourage sleep due to a nervous condition.

Pennywort can help protect our immune system from toxins. High blood pressure, congestive heart failure, venereal diseases and urinary tract infections are a few of a range of illnesses that can be treated with this remarkable herb. Because of its antibiotic properties, it has the capability to speed up the healing process of wounds. Futhermore, pennywort can improve blood flow while also reinforcing veins and capillaries, making them stronger. Studies have shown it to be beneficial in healing and preventing phlebitis, leg cramps, and blood clots as well as decrease the appearance of varicose veins. It is effective in bringing down fever and treating dysentery in children, which is a servere form of diarrhea.

Pennywort has also proved to cleanse and purify the blood stream and can remedy certain skin conditions such as eczema, chronic ulcers, sores, and scleroderma, which is a condition that hardens the skin. A powder can be made from the leaves of this plant and applied to the eruptions on the skin.　

There are possible side effects of this herb and should only be taken under the advise of your doctor. It is advised to follow the recommended doses, as increased use can lead to complications with your health. It may increase cholesterol and blood sugar levels, therefore, should be avoided by those with high cholesterol or diabetic individuals. It should not be used during pregnancy due to the possibility of miscarriage.

Before implementing pennywort into your diet, consult your doctor first to see if its safe for you. The pennywort plant has wonderful health benefits and abilities that can enhance and improve our lives.

Sources:　

herbwisdom.com/herb-gotu-kola.html

stuartxchange.com/pennywort.html

buzzle.com/articles/medicinal-plants-and-their-uses.,html

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/centella_asiatica　

?
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Apiales
Family: Mackinlayaceae
Genus: Centella
Species: C. asiatica
Binomial name
Centella asiatica
(L.) Urban
(clearly not Umbeliferae) Yet the name pennywort is clearly of Ye Olde English.. So I doubt that a witch would actually be speaking about the same plant. Wiki lists at least six plants under the common name,

Ah, Apiales is formerly Umbeliferae..

Virtually all of the Apiales are renowned for their health benefits.

Mixing common names with botanical species has many drawbacks as your references indicate. Other than what the witches tell you, a botanical reference would be more meaningful.

OK, I consulted my witchy herbals. To my surprise, the only one mentioning pennywort was Culpeper’s Colour Herbal. Here is what it had to say:

Common Marsh Pennywort (Hydrocotyle vulgaris): A perennial with bluish-green leaves, notched round the edges and numerous small pinkish flowers in long spikes. Also known as White-rot.

Where to find it: Bogs, fens and marshes, damp walls. It prefers acid soil.

Flowering time: Midsummer

Astrology: It is under Venus

Medicinal virtues: A remedy for supression of urine and the strangury and to remove gravel in the reins and bladder.

Modern uses: Although Pennywort does not appear to be of harm to humans, it does have a reputation for causing foot-rot in sheep. It is very little used, being emetic and purgative, as well as diuretic. The Indian Pennywort (Hydrocotyle asiatica), which has similar properties, is a traditional Indian remedy for fevers and bowel complaints. Large doses, however, cause headaches and may induce coma. It is not recommended for domestic use. Its use as a remedy for leprosy is being re-examined by medical researchers. The plant contains a natural antibiotic.

Not sure that is very helpful at all really.

buffy said:

OK, I consulted my witchy herbals. To my surprise, the only one mentioning pennywort was Culpeper’s Colour Herbal. Here is what it had to say:

Common Marsh Pennywort (Hydrocotyle vulgaris): A perennial with bluish-green leaves, notched round the edges and numerous small pinkish flowers in long spikes. Also known as White-rot.

Where to find it: Bogs, fens and marshes, damp walls. It prefers acid soil.

Flowering time: Midsummer

Astrology: It is under Venus

Medicinal virtues: A remedy for supression of urine and the strangury and to remove gravel in the reins and bladder.

Modern uses: Although Pennywort does not appear to be of harm to humans, it does have a reputation for causing foot-rot in sheep. It is very little used, being emetic and purgative, as well as diuretic. The Indian Pennywort (Hydrocotyle asiatica), which has similar properties, is a traditional Indian remedy for fevers and bowel complaints. Large doses, however, cause headaches and may induce coma. It is not recommended for domestic use. Its use as a remedy for leprosy is being re-examined by medical researchers. The plant contains a natural antibiotic.

Not sure that is very helpful at all really.

Thanks buffy, your account is certainly representative of the Australian species I know, especially as few animals eat them. No doubt the pointy hatted, hook-nosed ladies of old had usages for some of the old country pennyworts, but to give a blanket recommendation to a group of plants with worldwide distribution is very risky..

The Australian species is the same or if not then botanically very close to the one mentioned in Indian and Asian use. Centella asiatica
There are introduced species also known as pennywort, from South America and Africa: Environmental Weed
Botanical name: Hydrocotyle bonariensis .. Hydrocotyle ranunculoides
www.pittwater.nsw.gov.au/environment/noxious_weeds/herbs/pennywort

As I mentioned above, Celery, Carrots, Parsley, Dill, Fennel are among the plants well known for health benefits. I’ll not be bothering with witchcraft involved in partaking of those.

I brought this up because the question was asked by a person who I’d never have expected to want to know. It wasn’t mentioned in any of my herb books though I don’t have a copy of Culpepper.

http://www.southeastweeds.org.au/index.pl?page=210

many East coast residents may be more familiar with http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Centella~cordifolia

roughbarked said:

The Australian species is the same or if not then botanically very close to the one mentioned in Indian and Asian use. Centella asiatica
There are introduced species also known as pennywort, from South America and Africa: Environmental Weed
Botanical name: Hydrocotyle bonariensis .. Hydrocotyle ranunculoides
www.pittwater.nsw.gov.au/environment/noxious_weeds/herbs/pennywort

As I mentioned above, Celery, Carrots, Parsley, Dill, Fennel are among the plants well known for health benefits. I’ll not be bothering with witchcraft involved in partaking of those.

I brought this up because the question was asked by a person who I’d never have expected to want to know. It wasn’t mentioned in any of my herb books though I don’t have a copy of Culpepper.

Pennywort is a just a common name of a group of plants mostly in the genus Hydrocotyle, which has a worldwide distribution. The term does not include Celery, Carrots, Parsley, Dill or Fennel as these have different shaped leaves. The name of pennywort is not associated with a specific species, or of plants with certain properties.

PermeateFree said:

roughbarked said:

The Australian species is the same or if not then botanically very close to the one mentioned in Indian and Asian use. Centella asiatica
There are introduced species also known as pennywort, from South America and Africa: Environmental Weed
Botanical name: Hydrocotyle bonariensis .. Hydrocotyle ranunculoides
www.pittwater.nsw.gov.au/environment/noxious_weeds/herbs/pennywort

As I mentioned above, Celery, Carrots, Parsley, Dill, Fennel are among the plants well known for health benefits. I’ll not be bothering with witchcraft involved in partaking of those.

I brought this up because the question was asked by a person who I’d never have expected to want to know. It wasn’t mentioned in any of my herb books though I don’t have a copy of Culpepper.

Pennywort is a just a common name of a group of plants mostly in the genus Hydrocotyle, which has a worldwide distribution. The term does not include Celery, Carrots, Parsley, Dill or Fennel as these have different shaped leaves. The name of pennywort is not associated with a specific species, or of plants with certain properties.

Yes. Thanks for that but it was not about leaf shape that I mentioned other members of the family which are common food plants.

It was more the statement which is oft repeated on the web which came to me from someone who usually knows better, that: consuming two leaves per day of what he referred to as pennywort, would cure arthritis. To my limited knowledge, there is no known cure for arthritis and that if any of the plants listed loosely under pennywort were indeed capable of such assertions, then arthritis would be a thing of the past.

Nods in agreement.

PermeateFree said:

Nods in agreement.

So in summary: Pennywort is an accurate but misleading common name, loosely descriptive of many plants with roundish leaves.. That possibly is a weed of moist conditions. The name appears to cover a number of species which possibly may be eaten and maybe of some benifice but that plants of loose description should not be given misleading attributes?

roughbarked said:

PermeateFree said:

roughbarked said:

The Australian species is the same or if not then botanically very close to the one mentioned in Indian and Asian use. Centella asiatica
There are introduced species also known as pennywort, from South America and Africa: Environmental Weed
Botanical name: Hydrocotyle bonariensis .. Hydrocotyle ranunculoides
www.pittwater.nsw.gov.au/environment/noxious_weeds/herbs/pennywort

As I mentioned above, Celery, Carrots, Parsley, Dill, Fennel are among the plants well known for health benefits. I’ll not be bothering with witchcraft involved in partaking of those.

I brought this up because the question was asked by a person who I’d never have expected to want to know. It wasn’t mentioned in any of my herb books though I don’t have a copy of Culpepper.

Pennywort is a just a common name of a group of plants mostly in the genus Hydrocotyle, which has a worldwide distribution. The term does not include Celery, Carrots, Parsley, Dill or Fennel as these have different shaped leaves. The name of pennywort is not associated with a specific species, or of plants with certain properties.

Yes. Thanks for that but it was not about leaf shape that I mentioned other members of the family which are common food plants.

Indeed!

Too Many things look like too any things:
http://mtwow.org/poisen_hemlock_Conium_maculatum.html

Ah, didn’t think to look in the weed bible. From “Weeds. An illustrated botanical guide to the weeds of Australia” by B.A Auld and R.W. Medd:

Hydrocotyle bonariensis (pennywort): A scrambling prostrate herb with stems running along or beneath the sand or soil surface, rooting at nodes. Leaves bright green, circular, margins with rounded teeth, on a long petiole attached in the centre of the back of the leaf. Flower heads are compound umbels, profusely branched with many flowers.

H. bonariensis occurs mostly in maritime habitats along the NSW coast and around Adelaide. It is common on dunes and in wasteland, gardens and lawns grown on sandy soils.

Also listed is and Australian native form:

Hydrocotyle laxiflora (stinking pennywort, shitweed) A perennial herb covered with whit hairs. Stems creeping, rooting at nodes or with leaves appearing to arise from deep rhizomes. Leaves roughly circular in outline, irregularly broadly lobed with smaller, rounded marginal lobes. Inflorescence yellowish green, borne in lacy, globular clusters and emitting a strong, unpleasant odour. Separate male and female flowers; male flowers on longer peduncles.

H. laxiflora occurs throughout the tablelands and slopes of NSW as well as on the south-western plans and in Qld, Vic, SA and Tas. It is common in pastures and open grasslands, wasteland, woodland and occasionally persists in lawns and along the banks of streams.

And one more, another native of Australia, but note this one has a slightly different common name:

Hydrocotyle tripartita (pennyweed) A small herb with creeping stems which root at the nodes. Leaves divided to the petiole; peduncles shorter than leaves. Flowers greenish yellow, nearly sessile, inconspicuous among the foliage.

H. tripartita is found only on central coastal areas in NSW but also occurs in Qld and Vic, mostly in sheltered places, on the banks of streams, and sometimes as a wee in lawns

A somewhat similar plant, Centella asiatica. Urban, spade leaf, has scallop-edged leaves and white or pink petals. It occurs in all states except NT and is locally abundant in swamps, on the banks of streams, on roadsides and in gardens.

Many thanks to Auld and Medd.

H. laxiflora.. shitweed.. :) Now that doesn’t even sound edible.

roughbarked said:

PermeateFree said:

Nods in agreement.

So in summary: Pennywort is an accurate but misleading common name, loosely descriptive of many plants with roundish leaves.. That possibly is a weed of moist conditions. The name appears to cover a number of species which possibly may be eaten and maybe of some benifice but that plants of loose description should not be given misleading attributes?

The name Pennywort refers to a group of herbaceous species in the Apiaceae family with small roundish leaves. It does not refer to their edibility or any other property they may possess, good or bad. As a comparison, just because you can recognise a mushroom, does not mean you can eat them all! To eat something or to recommend something as beneficial in some way, the species identification is critical. You do not need to know the botanical name of the plant, but you do need to know the difference between it and other similar species.

PermeateFree said:

roughbarked said:

PermeateFree said:

Nods in agreement.

So in summary: Pennywort is an accurate but misleading common name, loosely descriptive of many plants with roundish leaves.. That possibly is a weed of moist conditions. The name appears to cover a number of species which possibly may be eaten and maybe of some benifice but that plants of loose description should not be given misleading attributes?

The name Pennywort refers to a group of herbaceous species in the Apiaceae family with small roundish leaves. It does not refer to their edibility or any other property they may possess, good or bad. As a comparison, just because you can recognise a mushroom, does not mean you can eat them all! To eat something or to recommend something as beneficial in some way, the species identification is critical. You do not need to know the botanical name of the plant, but you do need to know the difference between it and other similar species.

Yes I think I alluded to that in the OP or back there somewhere.