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Centella L.
Mark F. Watson
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Very similar to Hydrocotyle but umbels sheathed by small bracts, and mature mericarps with secondary ridges as prominent as primary ones.
Centella asiatica (L.) Urban
    Hydrocotyle asiatica L.
Vernacular Name: Tuni Manakuni (Dzongkha dialect: W Bhutan and the official language of Bhutan)

Leaves suborbicular or reniform, unlobed or very shallowly lobed, 1–3 x 1.5–5cm, margin crenate-dentate, base cordate, glabrous or sparsely pubescent on both surfaces; petiole 1–14cm. Umbels 1–12, clustered at nodes, each 2–4-flowered; peduncles usually short, up to 7(–30)mm; bracts 2–4, ovate 2–3mm, membranous. Flowers pinkish to deep red. Mericarps ellipsoid c 3 x 1.75mm, strongly ridged and often much wrinkled at maturity, sessile.

Bhutan: S—Phuntscholing district (Phuntscholing, Sorchent to Kharbandi) and Gaylegphug district (above Aie Bridge); C—Punakha district (Chusom, Wangdu Phodrang) and Tongsa district (Pertimi).
Sikkim: Gangtok (and an unlocalised specimen).
Darjeeling: Kalimpong, Rangbe Chhu, (Great) Rangit River, Torsa River.

Ecology: Common in shaded marshy ground, roadside ditches, etc. 400–1500m.
Flowers March–April.

Illustration [Fig 48: e, f]

Specimen List [3320]


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