Kidney Weed
Dichondra repens
Also known as: Kidney Weed, Lawn Dichondra, Mercury Weed
'Dichondra' is from the Greek 'di' (two) and 'chondra' (grain), referring to the two-lobed fruit. 'Repens' means 'creeping' in Latin. The common name 'kidney weed' describes the distinctive kidney- or fan-shaped leaves. Kidney weed is a low, creeping perennial herb that grows in lawns, open grassland, coastal heathland, and disturbed ground throughout temperate Australia. It spreads by runners (stolons) along the ground and roots at nodes, and is widely used as a lawn substitute in Australia. The tiny white flowers are easily overlooked. Leaves are edible.
When to Forage
Year-round.
Cautions
Generally considered safe in small quantities as a nibble. Not traditionally used as a food plant in large quantities, and while there is no well-documented toxicity, it is also not nutritionally significant – avoid consumption in large amounts due to limited safety data. Do not harvest from lawns that may have been treated with herbicides.
Nutrition
While there is no exact nutritional breakdown for kidney weed, it is known to contain flavonoids (which have a strong antioxidant effect, reducing oxidative stress and inflammation in the body) and compounds associated with a diuretic effect – it has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for this purpose, and as a treatment for jaundice – as well as trace minerals commonly found in greens, such as chlorophyll. As a bitter green it is said to be beneficial to the liver.
How to Identify
- Creeping, mat-forming plant; stems root freely at nodes.
- Leaves are the key feature: kidney- or fan-shaped (reniform), notched at the base, bright green, hairless to slightly downy, 1–3 cm across.
- Tiny, inconspicuous, greenish-cream flowers borne at leaf axils.
- Very low-growing; rarely more than 3–5 cm above ground.
Lookalikes
While the leaves are a very similar shape, they are often larger, taller (up to 10 cm), and sinuate-toothed (wavy-edged). The five-petalled flowers, ranging from purple to white, are very distinct.
Similar spade-like leaf, though gotu kola has rounded teeth along the rim; while kidney weed is smooth, gotu kola is lightly fuzzy and has a tap root.
How to Forage
Trim leaves with scissors or a small knife.
Recipe — Coastal Trail Mix with Kidney Weed Garnish
Ingredients: 1/4 cup kidney weed leaves (freshly picked, washed); 1/2 cup toasted mixed nuts; 1/4 cup dried native berries or dried cranberry; 2 tbsp toasted coconut flakes; sea salt. Method: Rinse the kidney weed leaves well and pat dry on a cloth. Mix the nuts, dried berries, and coconut flakes together. Scatter the kidney weed leaves over the top as a fresh, green garnish, and sprinkle with sea salt. Eat within a few hours as a fresh trail snack. Inspo: a green salad with kidney weed leaves tossed through.
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