How to Identify Dichondra repens from Gotu Kola

22 May

Posted By kristi 0 Comment(s) 4601 View(s) Botanical Bits

This is a quick little post to complement any Dichondra repens and/or gotu kola listings on this site. What is the point in saying (in those listings) how similar the two are at first glance, without actually helping people tell the difference between them?!

Here is Dichondra repens, also known as dichondra or Australian kidney weed, growing in full sun:

Here is gotu kola (Centella asiatica), also known as mandukaparni or arthritis herb, in full shade:

Pretty similar yes? Also not helped by the fact that both species will grow larger leaves and longer petioles (the stalks to which leaves are attached) when in shade.

The best way to tell one from the other is to examine the leaves for two very easy to spot differences.

The Dichondra repens leaf has smooth edges (margins) and a distinct ‘U’ shape where the leaf meets the petiole:

While gotu kola has a toothed margin and a sharp ‘V’ shape where the leaf meets the petiole:

In referring back to the header graphic atop this post (reproduced below), you should now be able to recognise the leaf on the left as Dichondra, and that on the right as gotu kola:

Tags: dichondra, Dichondra repens, gotu kola, mandukaparni, arthritis herb, brahmi, Centella asiatica, Ayurvedic,

Short Bio

Kristi Ellinopoullos
BSc(Hons), U.Syd. - double major in biochemistry and microbiology, with honours in microbiology
PhD, U.Syd - soil microbiology
Stumbled into IT and publishing of all things.
Discovered jujube trees and realised that perhaps I should have been an agronomist…
So I combined all the above passions and interests into plant-related websites and blogs, on which I write about plants, gardening, botany, soil chemistry, soil microbiology and biochemistry!

If you have any deep interest in microbiology and/or biochemistry, and how these apply to plants, I’m writing a deep-dive online book From Soil to Fruit here.

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