Knotweed, Prostrate - Polygonum aviculare

(Yard Knotweed)

Family: Knotweed - (Polygonaceae) Non-native

Location

On church wall (N35D33'00.149 X W105D41'21.342)


Flowers first observed: 9/12/17


The Plant

The Flowers


Distribution

" Found in disturbed areas from 1,000-8,000 ft (305-2438 m); flowers April-October." (SEINet)


Description

"Introduced prostrate or decumbent annual (rarely biennial) with blue-green, striate, wiry stems 10-50 cm long. Leaves: Lanceolate, oblong, or oblanceolate, 5-20 mm long, 1.5-5 mm wide, acute or rarely obtuse, cuneate at base, glabrous; stipule sheath 3-6 mm long, more or less lacerate, faintly rosaceous. Flowers: 1-6 flowered in axillary fascicles, on pedicels 1-4 mm long, calyx lobes 1.5-2 mm long, oblong, greenish with white or pinkish margins, erect, surpassed by tip of achene. Fruits: Achene trigonous, 2.2-2.6 mm long, minutely granular-striate, dark brown." (SEINet)


Ethnobotanical Uses

Medicine:

" Ingested for painful urination, for pain, diarrhea, for swollen parts, and to prevent abortion." (SEINet)


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