Centella asiatica L.

Common Name : Asiatic pennywort
Family : Apiaceae

HABIT

PERENNIAL HERB.

STEMS

PROSTRATE, SLENDER, CREEPING WITH LONG STOLANS AND NEARLY GLABROUS OR HAIRY ON YOUNG PARTS.

LEAVES

CORDATE OR HASTATE OR ORBICULAR OR RENIFORM OR SUB ENTIRE OR PALMATELY LOBED CONSISTING OF LONG PETIOLE AND SMALL STIPULES. LEAF BLADES ARE DENTATE, CRENATE WITH THICK RADIATE VEINS AND DARK GREEN IN COLOR. LEAVES ARE GLABROUS ON BOTH SURFACES.

FLOWERS

INFLORESCENCE SIMPLE UMBEL OF 3 – 6 FLOWERS AT THE ENDS OF SLENDER PEDUNCLES ARISING FROM THE AXILS
OF LEAVES AND MUCH SHORTER THAN PETIOLES SUPPORTED BELOW BY AN INVOLUCRE OF 2–BOAT SHAPED MEMBRANOUS PERSISTENT BRACTS. FLOWERS ARE SMALL, SESSILE AND DARK PINK IN COLOR.

FRUITS

CARPELS OBLONG, SUB–CYLINDRIC, CURVED AND LESS IN LENGTH, MUCH LATERALLY COMPRESSED, READILY SEPARATING INTO 2 INDEHISCENT HALVES (MERICARPS) UNITED BY A VERY NARROW PLANE OF JUNCTION.