Persicaria lapathifolia
| Pale Persicaria | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Core eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Polygonaceae |
| Genus: | Persicaria |
| Species: | P. lapathifolia |
| Binomial name | |
| Persicaria lapathifolia L. | |
 |
Wikispecies has information related to: Persicaria lapathifolia |
Persicaria lapathifolia (syn. Polygonum lapathifolium), known as pale persicaria,[1] is a plant of the family Polygonaceae. It is closely related to Redshank and as such is considered a weed in Britain and Europe. Other common names for the plant include pale smartweed, curlytop knotweed, and willow weed. It is a species complex made up of a great many varying forms, sometimes considered varieties. The environment also has a strong influence on the morphology of an individual plant.
Description
Pale persicaria is an annual herb with erect reddish stems with swollen joints, growing to a height of 20 to 80 cm (8 to 31 in). The leaves are alternate with short stalks, often densely hairy underneath. The leaf blades often have a dark-coloured blotch in the centre and are lanceolate or narrowly elliptical and have entire margins. Each leaf base has stipules which are fused into a stem-enclosing sheath that is loose and fringed with few if any hairs at the upper end. The inflorescence is a dense spike, often nodding. The perianth of each tiny pink flower consists of four or five lobes, fused near the base. There are six stamens, two partially fused carpels and two styles. The fruit is a rounded, flattened nut. This plant flowers from July to September.[2]
Distribution and habitat
Pale persicaria is found in many parts of both the Old World and New World. There are many varieties and sub-species and the plant is morphologically variable.[3] It is found growing on the sea shore and in disturbed ground such as arable land, gardens, waste ground, rubbish tips and road verges.[2]
References
- ↑ "BSBI List 2007" (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original on 2015-02-25. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Pale persicaria: Persicaria lapathifolia". NatureGate. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
- ↑ "Persicaria lapathifolia (Linnaeus) Gray". Flora of North America. Retrieved 2013-12-30.