General:
Annual herb from a taproot stems prostrate to erect, several, branched, ridged, 10-100 cm tall/long.

Leaves:
Basal leaves lacking; stem leaves alternate, widely linear to lanceolate-oblong, mostly bluish-green, the blades 1-3 cm long, slightly reduced upwards, the stalks short, jointed; branch leaves smaller than stem leaves; sheathing stipules brown, ragged, 3-6 mm long.

Flowers:
Inflorescence of 1-3 axillary flowers; perianths 2-3 mm long, greenish with white or pink to red margins, 5-lobed more than 1/2 the distance to the base.

Fruits:
Achenes, 3-angled, dark brown, obscurely lined lengthwise, pimply, 2.8-3.5 mm long, included to slightly exserted.

Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

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

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Polygonum aviculare var. angustissimum Meisn.
Polygonum aviculare var. vegetum Ledeb.
Polygonum heterophyllum Lindl.
Polygonum monspeliense Pers.
Polygonum provinciale K. Koch