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Home , Brunnichia ovata, Coccoloba uvifera, Eriogonum, Fagopyrum, Oxyria, Polygonaceae

– (SMARTWEED)

Plant: mostly , some , and rarely Stem: commonly with swollen joints or nodes where attaches, stem sometimes zigzag shape Root: : simple, mostly entire, mostly alternate, rarely whorled or opposite, small to very large; stiplules often forms a sheath (ochreae or ocrea) around the stem just above the node, or sometimes reduced or none : perfect or monoecious or dioecious, usually in slender clusters, heads or spikes; 2-6, green or often colored, sometimes in 2 series of 3, or sometimes 5-6; 2-9+; superior, 2-4 but mostly 3 carpels, 1 style : dried fruit, 3-sided or flattened with oval hard Other: mostly temperate climates; buckwheat and food stuff; Group Genera: 35+ genera; locally , , , (mountain ), Polygonella (Jointweed), , (Dock)

WARNING – family descriptions are only a layman’s guide and should not be used as definitive Morphology in the Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family)

Ocrea – a sheath surrounding stem nodes is common in this family – may or may not have fringing hairs or bristles. Arrowleaf Tearthumb Water Smartweed [Knotweed]

Woodland [Virginia] Knotweed

Swamp [Longroot; Water] Smartweed

Japanese Knotweed Dooryard knotweed Curly [Curled, Sour] Dock POLYGONACEAE – BUCKWHEAT (SMARTWEED) FAMILY

American Buckwheat [Ladies’ Eardrops]; (Walter) Shinners Sea Grape [Bay Grape]; uvifera (L.) L. (Introduced) Flatcrown Buckwheat [Skeletonweed]; Torr. Fewflower Buckwheat; Eriogonum pauciflorum Pursh Redroot Buckwheat; Eriogonum racemosum Nutt. Sulphur [-Flower] Buckwheat; Torr. Buckwheat; Fagopyrum esculentum Moench (Introduced) Alpine Mountain Sorrel; (L.) Hill Coastal [Sand] Jointweed; Polygonella articulata (L.) Meisn. Water Smartweed [Knotweed]; Polygonum amphibium L. Swamp [Longroot; Water] Smartweed Polygonum amphibium L. var. emersum Michx. X Polygonum amphibium L. var. stipulaceum Coleman Dooryard knotweed; L. (Introduced) Halberd-Leaved Tearthumb; Polygonum arifolium L. American Bistort; Polygonum bistortoides Pursh Oriental lady's thumb [Creeping Smartweed) Polygonum cespitosum Blume var. longisetum (Bruijn) A.N. Steward (Introduced) Black Bindweed; Polygonum convolvulus L. (Introduced) Japanese Knotweed; Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. & Zucc. (Introduced) Swamp Smartweed [False (Wild) Water-Pepper]; Polygonum hydropiperoides Michx. Nodding [Pale, Dock-Leaved] Smartweed [Curlytop Knotweed; Heart’s-Ease]; Polygonum lapathifolium L. Pennsylvania Smartweed [Pink Knotweed; Pinkweed]; Polygonum pensylvanicum L. [Spotted] Lady’s Thumb; Polygonum L. (Introduced) Dotted Smartweed; Polygonum punctatum Elliott var. punctatum Arrowleaf Tearthumb; Polygonum sagittatum L. POLYGONACEAE – BUCKWHEAT (SMARTWEED) FAMILY

Climbing False Buckwheat; Polygonum scandens L. var. cristatum (Engelm. & Gray) Gleason Pleatleaf [Slender] Knotweed; Michx. Woodland [Virginia] Knotweed [Jumpseed]; Polygonum virginianum L. Alpine Bistort; Polygonum viviparum L. Pale Dock; Rumex altissimus Alph. Wood Common Sheep [Field] Sorrel L. (Introduced) Curly [Curled, Sour] Dock; L. (Introduced) Heartwing Sorrel [Hastate Leaf Dock]; Baldw. Bitter [Broad-, Blunt-Leaved] Dock; L. (Introduced) Greater Water Dock; Rumex orbiculatus Gray Swamp Dock; L. American Buckwheat USDA Vine [Ladies’ Eardrops] Brunnichia ovata (Walter) Shinners Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family) Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, Stoddard County, Missouri Notes: vine, woody at base; no petals, calyx light green and 5-lobed, pedicel of each flower flattened into a wing; leaves alternate, wedge shaped to lanceolate, entire; stem light brown, short hairy, with tendrils; fruit pink, leathery and winged; wet areas and low woods; summer [V Max Brown, 2010] Sea Grape [Bay Grape] USDA (L.) L. (Introduced) Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family) Anna Maria Island, Florida Notes: to small ; flowers white, small, in spikes, floral tube fleshy; leaves shiny, large, evergreen and leathery, base cordate, veins often turn reddish; ocrea present on twigs; fruit (to 2+ cm) greenish turning red to purplish; spring [V Max Brown, 2016] Flatcrown Buckwheat [Skeletonweed] USDA Eriogonum deflexum Torr. Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family) Near Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada Notes: flowers of 6 tepals, small, white to pinkish with red midline, green, a cyme; leaves basal, somewhat ovate to reniform or cordate, entire, with , tomentose above and below; stem much branched, greenish; erect – from low and flat to 1.5+ m and “bushy”; desert areas; several varieties; summer [V Max Brown, 2014] Fewflower Buckwheat USDA Eriogonum pauciflorum Pursh Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family) Badlands National Park, Pennington County, Notes: flowers of 6 tepals, small, white to pinkish on compound umbels, stamens exerted, small leaf-like bracts at base of main umbel (somewhat cymose-like); leaves with stem sheaths up to 5 cm, linear to narrowly lanceolate, wooly hairy (tomentose), occurring mainly on the lower half of stem; stems spreading to erect (matted), thin, white wooly hairy (tomentose); late spring to summer [V Max Brown, 2014] Redroot Buckwheat USDA Eriogonum racemosum Nutt. Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family) Near Pagosa Springs, Archoleta County, Colorado Notes: flowers of 6 tepals, small, white to pinkish, stamens exerted, at nodes on -like spike; leaves basal, hairy to somewhat glabrous, elliptical to ovate, entire, with long petiole; stem wooly, green; highly variable ; summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2017] Sulphur [-Flower] USDA Buckwheat Eriogonum umbellatum Torr. Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family) Near Fraser, Grand County, Colorado Notes: flowers of 6 tepals, small, yellowish (often pale to whitish or pinkish tinted – matures reddish), on compound umbels, leaf-like bracts at base of main umbel; leaves spatulate, wooly hairy below; many varieties (FNA lists 41 varieties); summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2012] Buckwheat USDA Fagopyrum esculentum Moench (Introduced) Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family) Maumee River Metroparks, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: annual, erect with stems of 50+ cm; flowers of 5 tepals, in two whorls, white to slightly pinkish to greenish near base, short peduncles, in axial and terminal panicles; leaves triangular to heart- shaped with cordate bases (usually), up to 8+ cm in length, pointed tip, palmate veined, mostly glabrous; stem may have lines or stripes, node sheaths (ocrea) mostly tan (sometimes white), not bristly; 3-angled fruit without wings; summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2020] Alpine Mountain Sorrel USDA Oxyria digyna (L.) Hill Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family) Rocky Mountain National Park Notes: tiny flowers of greenish (usually with some red (4) but no petals in panicles; leaves mostly basal, cordate, and glabrous, long stalked; stem glabrous, with small ocrea; winged; montane to alpine environments; summer [V Max Brown, 2012] Coastal [Sand] Jointweed USDA Polygonella articulata (L.) Meisn. Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family) Whitefish Point, Chippewa County, Michigan Notes: flower of 5 tepals, white to pink (greenish), 8 stamens, 3 styles, flowers from ocreolae; leaves and stem wiry and jointed with overlapping ocreolae; sandy areas, particularly dunes; late summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2008] Water Smartweed [Knotweed] USDA Polygonum amphibium L. var. stipulaceum Coleman Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family) Irwin Prairie State Nature Preserve, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: flowers of tepals (4-6), pink to rose, stamens exserted, crowded on erect and stout spike (sometimes fairly blunt or oblong); leaves oblong to lanceolate, very hairy if terrestrial, glabrous if aquatic; muddy borders, swamps or aquatic; summer to fall (varieties but confusing) [V Max Brown, 2006] Swamp [Longroot; USDA Water] Smartweed Polygonum amphibium L. var. emersum Michx. X Polygonum amphibium L. var. stipulaceum Coleman Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family) Maumee Bay State Park, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: intermediate between 2 varieties above – note elongated flower spike, erect nature, lack of floating leaves, some leaves approaching sub-cordate bases; swamps, ditches and wet areas; summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2006] [Oval-Leaved] Dooryard USDA Knotweed Polygonum arenastrum L. (Introduced) Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family) University of Toledo Campus, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: flowers of 5 tepals, equal length, greenish with white to reddish margins; leaves ovate- lanceolate, entire, about same length over plant; somewhat erect to prostrate plant; summer to fall (a very difficult and confusing group, ID tentative) [V Max Brown, 2006]

Bottom Halberd-Leaved Tearthumb USDA Polygonum arifolium L. Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family) Waterloo Recreation Area, Washtenaw County, Michigan Notes: flowers of tepals (4 or rarely 5-6), white (pink or green); leaves hastate (halberd-shaped, basal lobes divergent); stem with abundant downward (retrorse) reflexed prickles; plant often reclining on other ; wet areas and swamps; summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2009] American Bistort USDA Polygonum bistortoides Pursh Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family) Near Fraser, Grand County, Colorado Notes: flowers white (sometimes with pinkish tint), 5 sepals (no petals); basal leaves lanceolate with long petioles, cauline leaves similar but with short petioles to sessile, ocera present; usually moist sites, montane to alpine; late spring to summer [V Max Brown, 2012] Oriental lady's thumb USDA [Creeping Smartweed) Polygonum cespitosum Blume var. longisetum (Bruijn) A.N. Steward (Introduced) Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family) Webster County, Missouri Notes: annual with taproot; mostly spreading and often rooting; stem glabrous; ocrea present with pink bristles 4-12 mm; leaves mostly lanceolate, glabrous with hairs on veins on lower surface; perianth pink, not gland dotted, stamens not exserted; stream banks, forests, etc.; late spring to fall [V Max Brown, 2019] Black Bindweed USDA Polygonum convolvulus L. (Introduced) Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family) Oak Openings MetroPark, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: vine; tepals (4-6), greenish on outside and white inside, on raceme from leaf axils; leaves alternate, cordate with cordate base, tip acuminate; ocrea without fringe of hairs at bottom; fruit an achene, black; common; late spring to fall [V Max Brown, 2008] Japanese Knotweed USDA Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. & Zucc. (Introduced) Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family) Oak Openings MetroPark, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: tepals greenish-white to white, clustered in leaf axils; leaves ovate, sharply pointed, truncated to subcordate at base; vegetative and flowering shoots from ; can be very invasive and difficult to control; late summer to early fall (sometimes called Mexican Bamboo) [V Max Brown, 2006] Swamp Smartweed [False USDA (Wild) Water-Pepper] Polygonum hydropiperoides Michx. Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family) McCormack Lake Rec. Area, Oregon County, Missouri Notes: flower of tepals, white, greenish-white to pink, no glandular dark dots, near top with flowers somewhat spread and larger than most; leaf lanceolate and pointed; long bristles on ocrea and stem hairs mostly appressed; water edges; summer to early fall (several varieties) [V Max Brown, 2007] Nodding [Pale, Dock-Leaved] USDA Smartweed [Curlytop Knotweed; Heart’s-Ease] Polygonum lapathifolium L. (Introduced) Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family) Maumee River Metroparks, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: flower of tepals, dense pink, purple or usually white, spikes elongated and usually drooping; leaf linear-lanceolate and sharply pointed; no bristles on ocrea; summer to early fall [V Max Brown, 2005] Pennsylvania Smartweed USDA [Pink Knotweed; Pinkweed] Polygonum pensylvanicum L. Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family) Wire Road Conservation Area, Stone County, Missouri Notes: flowers of pink to pinkish white to white tepals, stamens not all strongly exerted, spike cylindrical and compact, stout pedicle with red glandular hairs; stem smooth; ocrea top mostly entire, oblique (no bristles or very short); leaves somewhat lanceolate; annual plant with taproot; damp areas to forests; summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2014] [Spotted] Lady’s Thumb USDA [Heart’s-Ease] Polygonum persicaria L. (Introduced) Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family) Oak Openings MetroPark, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: small flowers of pink to rose-red tepals, stamens not protruding, flower spike very compact and smooth; leaves lanceolate and sharp pointed, fringing bristles at top of ocrea, dark mark on many leaves; stem mostly smooth; common plant; late spring to fall [V Max Brown, 2004] Dotted Smartweed USDA Polygonum punctatum Elliott var. punctatum Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family) Wire Road Conservation Area, Stone County, Missouri Notes: flower of tepals, greenish at base grading into white (may be pinkish), dotted with small glands, inflorescence of interrupted spikes (both terminal and axillary); leaves linear-lanceolate, tapered on both ends, sharply pointed; some short bristles on ocrea; most common along stream margins, shores of ponds, but may be found in many habitats including disturbed areas; summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2014] Arrowleaf Tearthumb USDA Polygonum sagittatum L. Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family) Oak Openings MetroPark, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: flowers of tepals, white (pink or green); leaves lanceolate and sagittate, basal lobes not divergent; stem with abundant downward (retrorse) reflexed prickles; plant often reclining on other plants; summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2006] Climbing False Buckwheat USDA Polygonum scandens L. var. cristatum (Engelm. & Gray) Gleason Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family) Maumee River Metroparks, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: twining vine; flowers of tepals, yellowish- green; reddish stem, node sheaths (ocrea) not bristly; winged fruit; summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2005] Pleatleaf [Slender] Knotweed USDA Polygonum tenue Michx. Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family) Oak Openings Metropark, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: flower of mostly 5 tepals, small, green with white (rarely pink) margins, all about the same size; leaves linear, sessile, with grooves on both sides of the mid- vein, about the same size on all parts of the plant; plant erect, often in sandy areas; summer to early fall [V Max Brown, 2008] Woodland [Virginia] USDA Knotweed [Jumpseed] Polygonum virginianum L. Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family) Maumee River Metroparks, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: flower of tepals, small, white, 2-hooked styles, on very long and slender inflorescence, flowers well separated; leaves large, mostly ovate to lanceolate; woods; summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2004] Alpine Bistort USDA Polygonum viviparum L. Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family) Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado Notes: flowers white (sometimes with pinkish tint), 5 sepals (no petals), below the flowers are vegetative bulblets; basal leaves lanceolate with long petioles, cauline leaves similar but mostly sessile, ocera present; usually moist sites, montane to alpine environments; summer [V Max Brown, 2012] Pale Dock USDA Rumex altissimus Alph. Wood Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family) Wire Road conservation Area, Stone County, Missouri Notes: tall plant, erect; monoecious; inflorescence terminal and in axils, staminate above, pistillate flowers whorled, 6 tepals, greenish, somewhat triangular, winged, with tip blunt to somewhat pointed, margins undulating but entire (no teeth), somewhat wrinkled; Ocreae white to pale brown, delicate and usually torn; leaves alternate, somewhat elliptical- lanceolate to lanceolate, almost leathery, glabrous; many habitats [V Max Brown, 2014] Common Sheep USDA [Field; Red] Sorrel Rumex acetosella L. (Introduced) Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family) Oak Openings Metropark, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: flowers of greenish (usually with some red) tepals in interrupted spikes, outer tepals not strongly reflexed; lower leaves hastate (basal lobes divergent) and lanceolate, upper leaves mostly without lobes; stem nodes with ocrea; waste ground and fields; spring to summer [V Max Brown, 2005] Curly [Curled, Sour] Dock USDA Rumex crispus L. (Introduced) Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family) Waterville, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: tall plant; flowers of 6 tepals, greenish with red, in compact whorls; lower leaves heavily curled at edges and lanceolate, sharp pointed; fruit wings (inner tepals) heart-shaped, entire or slightly toothed; late spring to fall (hybrids common) [V Max Brown, 2005] Heartwing Sorrel [Hastate Leaf Dock] USDA Rumex hastatulus Baldw. Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family) Seagrove Beach, Walton County, Florida Notes: flowers dioecious; tepals reddish in interrupted spikes; lower leaves hastate (basal lobes divergent, 2-4 lobes) and lanceolate, stem leaves much smaller; stem nodes with ocrea; plants as single stems or clumps, may be up to 1 m high, waste ground and fields; spring to summer [V Max Brown, 2012] Bitter [Broad-, Blunt- USDA Leaved] Dock Rumex obtusifolius L. (Introduced) Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family) Oak Openings Metropark, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: tall plant; flowers of 6 tepals, greenish, often colored with red, in compact whorls, pedicels with a swollen joint, valves with spinose teeth; lower leaves broad, usually with a cordate base, often with red veins in age; late spring to fall [V Max Brown, 2007] Greater Water Dock USDA Rumex orbiculatus Gray Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family) University of Toledo campus; Lucas County, Ohio Notes: flowers of 6 tepals, greenish, often colored with red, in compact whorls, pedicels without a swollen joint, tepals or valves mostly entire; leaves, especially basal leaves, are very large with long pedicels, with wavy edges; fruit grain small, distinctly raised above tepals; late spring to early fall [V Max Brown, 2007] Swamp Dock USDA Rumex verticillatus L. Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family) Oak Openings Metropark, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: flowers of 6 tepals, greenish, often colored with red, in compact whorls that are more separated down the stem, pedicels long without a swollen joint, valves or inner tepals mostly entire; leaves lanceolate tapering to base; late spring to early fall [V Max Brown, 2007]