Scientific Name

Hydrocotyle bonariensis
Family: Apiaceae

Flowers

Tiny white flowers in dense umbels at the height of the leaves.

Habitat

First collected on the island Bonaria, off the coast of Venezuela. This Australian bushland weed can be found in the coastal sand dunes and cliffs of Sydney. It roots along it's stems and has a thick waxy cuticle as protection from sea salt spray.

Leaves are circular and paltate.
(i.e. stalk attached to the middle of the leaf)

Eradication

There are several schools of thought on how to control this weed.
Control can include registered herbicides such as Roundup used as a diluted foliar spray. Follow all directions on the label. The weed's thick waxy cuticle needs to be penetrated, therefore the addition of penetrating herbicides and surfactants are required to be successful.

Mechanical removal does not work well, in most cases the weak leaf stem is snapped off leaving the underground stem in the ground. In general a difficult plant to remove in most circumstances.

References

Robinson, L. (1991). Field Guide to the Native Plants of Sydney. 2nd ed. Kangaroo Press, Roseville.

Kurnell curse, also known as Pennywort