Persicaria punctata (Elliot) Small
dotted smartweed
Polygonaceae (Buckwheat family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
dotted smartweed
Polygonaceae (Buckwheat family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Species Information
General:
Annual herb from a rhizome; stems prostrate to erect, solitary from the rooted rhizome, few to numerous, 30-100 cm tall/long.
Leaves:
Basal leaves lacking; stem leaves alternate, lanceolate, mostly smooth, 5-10 cm long, short-stalked; stipules sparsely hairy, 10-15 mm long, sometimes fringed with bristly hairs at the tops.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of axillary and terminal, spikelike, interrupted racemes; perianths greenish with white margins, glandular-dotted, 5-lobed to about 1/2 the distance to the base; stamens usually 8.
Fruits:
Achenes, 2- to 3-angled, deep brownish-black to black, smooth, shiny.
Notes:
Closely related to P. hydropiper.
Illustration
If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.
Illustration Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia
Habitat and Range
Swamps and wet meadows in the lowland and steppe zone; rare in SW (lower Fraser Valley) and SC BC; E to NB and NS and S to FL, TX, MX and CA; S. Asia.Status Information
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Polygonum punctatum Elliott