Wild pennywort?

[AfroNewtkeeper]

After reading multiple threads about wild plants, I realized that I had quite a bit of what I'm fairly certain is pennywort in my yard. I brought a large clump inside, rinsed off most of the dirt and burrs stuck to it, swirled it around in saltwater for a minute or so, rinsed it a second time, and added to the tank.

My questions are:
Is this actually pennywort, or another member of the hydrocotyle family? Does it require much light? Could any remaining dirt or debris on the plant harm the newts?

Thanks!

 

[JoshBA]

All I know is if it was collected from terrestrial location, then its not going to grow submerged (as I see it in your tank).

 

[AfroNewtkeeper]

This isn't on-topic, but has anyone ever had an orientalis seem to try to bite or attack the glass? One of my females was doing so for a few minutes. Just gaping and pushing up against the wall. It's a bit disconcerting... Is it a sign of illness?

This is a bad shot, sorry.

 

[slowfoot]

Your newt probably just wants to be fed. Mine do this all the time.

As far as the pennywort, it's probably a related plant called dollar weed. I took some of this from outside and it grows well in my tanks partially submerged. Here's a picture:



Edit: I looked more closely at your pic and that's not dollar weed, it's a type of violet, I think. Definitely not aquatic.

 

[AfroNewtkeeper]

I'm certain it's not violet- it grows in flat sheets within an inch of the ground and the leaves are very smooth. That's a relief about the behavior though, thanks.
(Also, I live in central Texas and I've never seen any native violets.)

 

[slowfoot]

Here you go: Wild Violet (P) (Viola papilionacea) - family: Violaceae (Violet) - MSU Turf Weeds.net - Weed identification and information. A resource guide from the Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences at Michigan State University

Though it might not be that either, but you definitely have violets in Texas.

 

[AfroNewtkeeper]

I suppose it could be- I'm not sure if I've ever seen it flowering. It doesn't look like many of the wild violet on google, but it fits that site's description.

 

[AfroNewtkeeper]

I'm pretty sure that it's dichondra, which doesn't appear to be aquatic.
This is comparing dollar weed to dichondra: Creeping Charlie vs Pennywort (Dollarweed) vs Dichondra – Identification | Walter Reeves: The Georgia Gardener

 

[AfroNewtkeeper]

I think it's dichondra- which appears to be terrestrial.
Creeping Charlie vs Pennywort (Dollarweed) vs Dichondra – Identification | Walter Reeves: The Georgia Gardener

 

[Bellabelloo]

I think you are right.. I have some in my garden , I know it as Kidney Weed.

BBC - Gardening - Plants - Plant Finder - Dichondra micrantha 'Silver Falls'

 

[AfroNewtkeeper]

Agh- sorry about the repost.

 

[AfroNewtkeeper]

Just wanted to post a quick follow-up. I left a few of the plants in a container next to the newt tank, where they were exposed to 8 hours of light a day. They're doing fine, and adapted well to aquatic life as long as roots were still attached. (I won't be using them in any tanks though.)

 

[jkooiman]

FYI I would rinse the pennywort in a 10% bleach solution prior to introducing it to amphibians. This should kill BD and most other undesirable pathogens. I had thought this practice was pretty much a consensus with amphibian-keepers nowadays, so just thought I might make a post, to re-affirm this is a best practice among amphibian keepers of the modern era. Thanks! JVK