Centella triloba is a perennial dwarf shrublet in the carrot family (Apiaceae), native to the coastal sand flats and sandstone slopes of the Western Cape.

Names - Common English Name: Three-lobed Pennywort (or Cape Pennywort)Afrikaans Name: Drielob-varkiesblaar (also referred to as Drielob-pennywort)

Botanical Features

Growth Form: Low-growing, trailing or tufted perennial herb to dwarf shrublet that spreads via runners or slender woody stems.

Foliage: Distinctive fan-shaped to wedge-shaped leaves that are characteristically three-lobed at the tip (triloba means "three-lobed"). The leaves are firm, bright green, and feature coarsely toothed or serrated margins.

Flowers: Inconspicuous, small, pinkish to purplish or greenish-white flowers clustered in compact, short-stemmed umbels near the base of the leaves.

Flowering Period: Spring through summer into early autumn (typically September to March).

Habitat & Ecological RoleHabitat: Grows in fynbos vegetation on rocky sandstone slopes, coastal dunes, and damp sandy flats along the south-western coast.

Growth Cycle: Evergreen perennial that retains its foliage year-round where moisture is available, helping to bind sandy soil and stabilize rocky crevices.

Click to find out more on iNaturalist