Persicaria strigosa (R.Br.) Nakai, Rigakkwai 24: 299 1926. (syn. Polygonum bodinieri H. Lév. & Vaniot; Polygonum strigosum R.Br.; Tracaulon strigosum (R. Br.) Greene; Truellum strigosum (R.Br.) Soják);
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Pink Knotweed;
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Creeping or suberect herbs; stems angular, the angles beset with small reflexed or recurved barbs or prickles, more so below the nodes. Leaves 3.5-12 x 2-3.5 cm, oblong or linear-oblong, base truncate to hastate, apex acuminate; petiole to 1.4 cm long; ocrea 2-2.5 cm long, long-tubular, truncate, with many excurrent nerves, terminating in erect setae. Flowers 3-4.5 mm across, white, in 6-12 mm long, oblong or subglobose peduncled heads; peduncles 5-15 cm long, panicled, slender, glandular-hispid below the head. Bracts ovate or oblong, strigose and ciliate. Perianth 3-5 mm long, campanulate; tube c. 2 mm long; lobes 5, 2-3 mm long, obovate, obtuse. Stamens 5, alternating with 5, yellow, subulate staminoids; filaments c. 2 mm long; anthers white. Ovary c. 1 mm long, ovoid; style c. 2 mm long, 2-fid; stigma capitate. Nut 1.5-2 mm across, biconvex, reddish-brown to black. Flowering and fruiting: November-May
Marshy areas
South Asia and China
Persicaria strigosa is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, Thailand, Viet Nam and Australia. In India it is found in the Himalaya (Cook 1996) and in Tamil Nadu (Nilgiris and Palnis) (Henry et al. 1987). |