Species
Houttuynia cordata
Etymology
Houttuynia: Named for Dr Maarten Houttuyn (1720 – 1798), a Dutch botanist.
Common Name(s)
Houttuynia
Family
Saururaceae
Flora Category
Vascular - Exotic
Structural Class
Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites
Habitat
Terrestrial. Wetlands, gardens, freshwater margins, damp ground, forest, shrubland and fenland.
Features
Dense, deciduous (semi-evergreen in warm areas) groundcover herb to 1m. Slender couch-like rhizomes. Stems creeping and semi-ascending. leaves heart-shaped, up to 7 cm long, usually variegated cream, bronze, scarlet and green, soon reverting to green. Peppery scent when crushed. Flowerhead a small spike with minute flowers and 4 white bracts (petals) at the base, Dec-Feb. Usually dies back to rootstock over winter.
Similar Taxa
Ivy has similar leaves but woody stems. 3 coloured leaves (green, red, creamy ) inmost commonly cultivated form. Leaves are unpleasant-smelling.
Flowering
December, January, February
Flower Colours
White
Origin
Japan South to mountains of Nepal and Java.
Reason for Introduction
Ornamental plant
Life Cycle and Dispersal
Reproduces by rhizome fragments or possibly seeds.
References and further reading
Johnson, A. T. and Smith, H. A (1986). Plant Names Simplified: Their pronunciation, derivation and meaning. Landsman Bookshop Ltd: Buckenhill, UK.
This page last updated on 8 Aug 2013