Perennial glabrous herb with robust, creeping stems that root at nodes. Leaf-lamina rather fleshy, peltate, 3–6 cm across, shallowly lobed, margin crenate; petiole to 15 cm long; stipules scarious, 2–4 mm long. Umbels compound, 1–6 cm across, many-flowered; rays 5–12, spreading; flowers in whorls in interrupted or sometimes branched spike-like structures and at base of rays; peduncle to 11 cm long, usually exceeding leaves; pedicels 2–20 mm long; involucral bracts lanceolate, acute. Petals white to creamy yellow. Fruits transversely ellipsoid, 1.5–2 mm long, 2.5–3 mm wide, base and apex emarginate; dorsal and lateral ribs prominent. Flowers mainly spring and summer.
VVP, GipP, WaP, EGL, EGU, WPro. Also WA, SA, Qld, NSW. Native to South America. Usually naturalised in coastal or near-coastal areas where it colonises dunes, cliff-faces and swampy areas, but also naturalised in constructed wetlands at Cairnlea (a western suburb of Melbourne).
Source:
Duretto, M.F. (1999). Apiaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 4, Cornaceae to Asteraceae, pp. 256–258. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
