Image: Persicaria decipiens habit6 Gwydir Wetlands (16570891204)

Description: Native, warm season, annual or perennial, creeping or ascending herb to 30 cm tall; its slender stems die back over winter. Leaves are 5-12 cm long, lance-shaped and usually have a purple blotch on the middle of the top surface; ochreas (sheaths encircling the nodes) have hairs 2-10 mm long. Flowerheads are 2-6cm long, slender and loose; with small pale to deep-pink (rarely white) flowers. Flowering is from spring to autumn. Widespread and common in damp places such as drainage lines, swamp margins and periodically flooded areas, especially on the floodplains. Is a common understorey of healthy red gum forests. Spreads by seed and broken stems. Seeds are an important food for waterbirds. Plants provide habitat for birds and other native animals, and help stabilise streambanks. Contains an unknown toxin that can cause liver inflammation and photosensitive-dermatitis in livestock and humans, but is not readily grazed as it has acrid leaves. When plants are grazed, it indicates grazing levels are too high.
Title: Persicaria decipiens habit6 Gwydir Wetlands (16570891204)
Credit: Persicaria decipiens habit6 Gwydir Wetlands
Author: Harry Rose from South West Rocks, Australia
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
License: CC BY 2.0
License Link: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0
Attribution Required?: Yes