Scientific Name | Persicaria hydropiperoides (Polygonum hydropiperoides) | USDA PLANTS Symbol | POHY2 |
Common Name | Swamp Smartweed | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 518733 |
Family | Polygonaceae (Buckwheat) | SEINet Reference |
Click Here |
Description | Habitat: Wet soils in marshes, along streams or ponds and in prairies; sea level to 7,000 ft. Plant: Nearly erect or decumbent annual or perennial, sometimes rooting at nodes, sometimes branched above, 4 to 40 inches tall; smooth stems have swollen interodes with brownish ocrea 3/8 to 3/4-inch long with bristles up to 3/8-inch long. Leaves: Alternate, lanceolate 1-1/4 to 6-3/4 inches long and 1/3 to 3/4-inch wide with pointed tips. Inflorescence: Terminal or arising from axils, sometimes interrupted, racemes 1-5/8 to 3-1/8 inches long of many small flowers; each flower about 1/4-inch across with 5 white tepals, 8 stamens and 3 styles; smooth white or pinkish calyx 1/8-inch long. Bloom Period: June to November. References: SEINet, "Wildflowers of Texas" by Michael Eason and "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston. |
BONAP Distribution Map Map Color Key | Texas Status: Native |
Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County
© Tom Lebsack 2024