Description: Perennial herbs or small shrubs; stem erect or very short and with long creeping runners.
Leaves simple, entire or toothed, exstipulate.
Inflorescence axillary, a simple umbel, usually 2–3 flowered, but sometimes umbels clustered; bracts usually few or absent. Flowers bisexual or the lateral ones male; white, pink, red or purple. Sepals few or absent. Petals broad, obtuse. Stylopodium flat.
Fruit laterally compressed; carpophore undivided, persistent; mericarps convex, with 7–9 longitudinal ridges with reticulate connections.
Distribution and occurrence: World: c. 40 species, mainly Southern Hemisphere. Australia: 2 species (naturalized), all States except N.T.
Text by B. M. Wiecek & S. M. Hastings
Taxon concept:
| | Key to the species | |
| 1 | Leaves more or less circular in outline, margins strongly crenate; fruit strongly reticulate | Centella asiatica |
| Leaves longer than broad, margins weakly crenate; fruit less strongly reticulate | Centella cordifolia |
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