Erect knotweed facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Erect knotweed |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Polygonum
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| Species: |
erectum
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Polygonum erectum, also known as erect knotweed, is a plant that grows in North America. It belongs to the buckwheat family, called Polygonaceae. You can mostly find it in the northeastern and central parts of the United States. It also grows in some other areas of the US and in Canada.
This plant naturally grows in forests near rivers and in wet areas. It can also grow well in places that have been changed by people, like pastures and lawns.
Long ago, Native Americans grew erect knotweed for food. It was part of a group of crops known as the Eastern Agricultural Complex.
What is Erect Knotweed?
Erect knotweed is an annual plant, which means it lives for only one growing season. It usually grows between 10 and 75 centimeters (4 to 30 inches) tall. It has many branches that are not wiry.
Its leaves have clear veins and smooth edges. Sometimes, the edges can be a bit jagged. The plant's small flower stems, called pedicels, are about the same length as the flower's outer leaves.
Flowers and Seeds
The flowers of erect knotweed are usually green and about 3 millimeters long. They have five lobes. These flowers grow in small groups of 1 to 5. You can find them where the leaves meet the stem.
The flower parts, called tepals, are greenish. They might have a yellowish or whitish tint.
The plant produces seeds inside small fruits called achenes. There are two main types of achenes. One type is dark brown and shiny, shaped like an egg, and about 2.5 millimeters long. The other type is dull brown and also egg-shaped, but a bit larger, about 3 to 3.5 millimeters long.
How We Protect Erect Knotweed
Overall, Polygonum erectum is considered a secure plant species around the world. However, it is not very common in many places where it grows. Its numbers have gone down a lot in some regions.
Because of this, erect knotweed is listed as an endangered plant in New Hampshire and New York. This means it is very important to protect it in these states.
Images for kids
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Botanical illustration of Polygonum erectum
