Persicaria lapathifolia facts for kids
Persicaria lapathifolia (also known as Polygonum lapathifolium), is a plant often called pale persicaria. It belongs to the Polygonaceae family, which includes plants like buckwheat. This plant is a close relative of Persicaria maculosa and is sometimes seen as a weed in places like Britain and Europe. Other common names for it are pale smartweed, curlytop knotweed, and willow weed. Pale persicaria can look very different depending on where it grows and what its environment is like.
Quick facts for kids Persicaria lapathifolia |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Persicaria
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| Species: |
lapathifolia
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| Synonyms | |
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Other Names
Polygonum lapathifolium L. 1753
Persicaria lapathifolia (L.) S.F.Gray 1821 Dioctis maculatum Raf. Dioctis vernum Raf. Discolenta lapathifolia Raf. Discolenta scabra Raf. Persicaria brittingeri Opiz Persicaria hypanica (Klokov) Tzvelev Persicaria linicola (Sutulov) Nenukow Persicaria oneillii Brenckle Persicaria saporoviensis (Klokov) Tzvelev Persicaria scabra (Moench) Moldenke Persicaria tomentosa (Schrank) E.P.Bicknell Peutalis incana Raf. Peutalis nodosa (Pers.) Raf. Peutalis scabra Raf. Pogalis tomentosa Raf. Polygonum andrzejowskianum Klokov Polygonum brittingeri Opiz Polygonum hypanicum Klokov Polygonum incanum F.W.Schmidt Polygonum incarnatum Elliott Polygonum linicola Sutulov Polygonum nodosum Pers. Polygonum pallidum With. Polygonum paniculatum Andrz. 1862 not L. 1759 Polygonum saporoviense Klokov Polygonum scabrum Moench Polygonum tomentosum Schrank Polygonum utriculatum Remy plus many more names at level of subspecies, variety, or form |
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What it Looks Like
Pale persicaria is a plant that lives for one year. It has straight, reddish stems with bumpy parts, and it can grow to be about 20 to 80 centimeters (8 to 31 inches) tall.
Its leaves grow one after another on short stems. They are often fuzzy underneath. The leaves are shaped like a spearhead or a narrow oval, with smooth edges. They often have a dark spot in the middle. At the base of each leaf, there are small leaf-like parts called stipules. These stipules wrap around the stem like a loose sleeve, with a few hairs at the top.
The flowers grow in a tight cluster that often droops. Each tiny pink flower has four or five petals joined at the bottom. It also has six parts that make pollen and two parts that help make seeds. The fruit of the plant is a flat, round seed. This plant usually flowers from July to September in cooler parts of the world.
Where it Grows
Pale persicaria can be found in many parts of the world, including both the Old World (like Europe and Asia) and the New World (like North and South America). Because the plant can look different depending on where it grows, many different names have been given to its various forms.
You can find this plant growing in many places. It grows on the seashore and in disturbed ground. This includes places like farms, gardens, empty lots, trash dumps, and along the sides of roads.
Images for kids
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Pale persicaria (Persicaria lapathifolia)
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See also
In Spanish: Polygonum lapathifolium para niños
