Polygonum polygaloides subsp. kelloggii Wall. ex Meisn. (Greene) J.C. Hickman
Kellogg's knotweed
Polygonaceae (Buckwheat family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Ryan Batten     (Photo ID #67023)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Polygonum polygaloides subsp. kelloggii
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Species Information

General:
Annual herb from a taproot; stems erect or ascending, solitary, usually freely branched, smooth, angled, 1-15 cm tall.
Leaves:
Basal leaves lacking; stem leaves alternate, linear, the blades 10-40 mm long, unstalked; stipules ragged, 4-8 mm long.
Flowers:
Inflorescence a terminal, spikelike raceme, closely crowded and usually overlapping, in groups of 1-4 in the axils of white- or green-margined floral bracts; perianths 2-3 mm long, white to red, unequally 5-lobed 2/3 the distance to the base.
Fruits:
Achenes 3-angled, brown to nearly black, dull or shiny, smooth or longitudinally lined, 1.5-2 mm long, sometimes difficult to separate.
Notes:
Two subspecies occur in our region.

1. Floral bract margins white; achenes brown to nearly black; usually dull, longitudinally grooved......................... ssp. confertiflorum (Piper) Hickman

1. Floral bract margins green; achenes brown, usually shiny, smooth......................... ssp. kelloggii (Greene) Hickman

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Habitat and Range

Wet vernal pools and ditches to dry roadsides and meadows in the montane and subalpine zones; ssp. confertiflorum - rare in SC BC, ssp. kelloggii Greene - rare in S BC; E to SW AB and S to CO, AZ and CA.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Polygonum kelloggii Greene
Polygonum unifolium Greene