Texas
Wildbuds

Persicaria pensylvanica

(Pennsylvania Smartweed)

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Persicaria pensylvanica, Choke Canyon State Park, McMullen Co. 8272

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Persicaria pensylvanica, George Bush Park, Houston, Harris Co. 6580

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Persicaria pensylvanica, George Bush Park, Houston, Harris Co. 6568

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Persicaria pensylvanica, George Bush Park, Houston, Harris Co. 6584

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Persicaria pensylvanica, George Bush Park, Houston, Harris Co. 6573

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Persicaria pensylvanica, George Bush Park, Houston, Harris Co. 6588

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Persicaria pensylvanica, George Bush Park, Houston, Harris Co. 6594

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Persicaria pensylvanica, Choke Canyon State Park, McMullen Co. 8282

Scientific Name Persicaria pensylvanica (Polygonum pensylvanicum) USDA PLANTS Symbol POPE2
Common Name Pennsylvania Smartweed ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. 518745
Family Polygonaceae (Buckwheat) SEINet
Reference
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Description Habitat: Moist soils in disturbed places, ditches, riverbanks, fields and shorelines; up to 7000 ft.
Plant: Erect annual 1 to 5 ft. or more tall; stems are simple or branched, ribbed, smooth or slightly hairy above; brownish, papery, ocrea 0.2 to 0.8 inches long, usually with hairless edges and usually no bristles.
Leaves: Alternate, lanceolate 2 to 8 inches long; smooth surfaces or with small appressed hairs on lower surface; short petioles 0.8 inches long or less.
Inflorescence: Terminal or arising from axils, uninterrupted, racemes 0.2 to 2 inches long of many small flowers; each flower about 1/4-inch across with 5 white to pink tepals, 6 to 8 stamens with yellow, pink or red anthers and 2 styles; smooth greenish-white to pink calyx 1/8-inch long.
Bloom Period: May 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