Family: Polygonaceae
heart's-ease, spotted lady's-thumb
[Persicaria vulgaris Webb & Moq., more...]
Merel R. Black
Kitty Kohout
University of Wisconsin - Madison (WIS-VP)
Etymology: Persicaria: peach-like, the medieval name for knotweed
Plants: erect to sprawling, annual, up to 32" tall, mostly smooth forb often with many branches; stems not glandular, nodes with a few very short bristles; taprooted
Leaves: alternate, narrowly lance-like with a dark blotch near the center
Flowers: pink to rose, 5-parted, 1/8" long, petals and petal-like sepals connected at the base; inflorescence 1/2" - 1 1/2" dense, straight, cylindrical, spike-like clusters 1/4"-1/2" thick arching on a stalk jointed at the top; blooms July-Sept.
Fruits: black, smooth, shiny, dry, broadly-oval seed
Habitat: wet to moist; disturbed sites such as gardens
Conservation Status: Introduced - naturalized
Plants: erect to sprawling, annual, up to 32" tall, mostly smooth forb often with many branches; stems not glandular, nodes with a few very short bristles; taprooted
Leaves: alternate, narrowly lance-like with a dark blotch near the center
Flowers: pink to rose, 5-parted, 1/8" long, petals and petal-like sepals connected at the base; inflorescence 1/2" - 1 1/2" dense, straight, cylindrical, spike-like clusters 1/4"-1/2" thick arching on a stalk jointed at the top; blooms July-Sept.
Fruits: black, smooth, shiny, dry, broadly-oval seed
Habitat: wet to moist; disturbed sites such as gardens
Conservation Status: Introduced - naturalized
Flora of North America: Flora of North America Floristic Rating: Wetland Indicator = FACW USDA Plants Database: Federal Distribution and detailed information including photos Dan Tenaglia's The Missouri Flora: Fabulous photographs; detailed descriptions; color and leave arrangement key. David G. Smith's "Delaware Wilflowers": Beautiful photographs; descriptions Illinois Wildflowers: Wonderful photographs; detailed descriptions; color and leaf arrangement key Southwest School of Botanical Medicine: Britton & Brown Illustrated Flora - 2nd Edition (1913) "An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada"
Kitty Kohout
Merel R. Black
Janice Stiefel
Emmet J. Judziewicz
Paul Skawinski
Botanical Illlustration
Botanical Illustration
Botanical Illustration
Botanical Illustration
