Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Eudicots: Core Eudicots: Caryophyllales
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Persicaria maculosa
FAMILY
Polygonaceae
Go to FSUS key
Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
Check out EDDMapS.org to see where this has been reported.
Read more about Spotted Lady's-thumb at Vascular Plants of North Carolina.
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Polygonum persicaria
FAMILY
Polygonaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Persicaria maculosa
SYNONYMOUS WITH Flora of North America north of Mexico, vol. 5 (2005)
Persicaria maculosa
SYNONYMOUS WITH VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 063-04-014:
Polygonum persicaria FAMILY Polygonaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Persicaria persicaria
COMMON NAME:
Spotted Lady's-thumb, Heart's-ease
To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.
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USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913 pnd_pepe18_001_lvd
)
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA Wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide pnd_pope3_003_lvd
)
USDA / Selected Weeds of the US. 1970 swus_page_127
)
Keith Bradley kab_p_maculosa_73082
March Miami-Dade County FL
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Keith Bradley kab_p_maculosa_73089
March Miami-Dade County FL
)
Keith Bradley kab_p_maculosa_73102
March Miami-Dade County FL
Spikes of flowers upright, per Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control (Kaufman & Kaufman, 2007).
)
Keith Bradley kab_p_maculosa_73130
March Miami-Dade County FL
)
JK Marlow jkm180828_4293
August Jackson County NC
Big Ridge Preserve
The tiny flowers are pale pink, but while in bud a much deeper pink, per www.first-nature.com.
)
JK Marlow jkm180828_4296
August Jackson County NC
Big Ridge Preserve
)
JK Marlow jkm180828_4298
August Jackson County NC
Big Ridge Preserve
Bristles of ocreae 0.2-1.3 (-2) mm long, per Weakley's Flora (2020).
COMPARE
ocreae of Jumpseed and Smartweed species
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Dan Tenaglia, Missouriplants.com, Bugwood.org bug_5350077
Month Unknown
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Dan Tenaglia, Missouriplants.com, Bugwood.org bug_5350078
Month Unknown
)
Joseph M. DiTomaso, University of California - Davis, Bugwood.org bug_5387577
Month Unknown
)
Joseph M. DiTomaso, University of California - Davis, Bugwood.org bug_5387579
Month Unknown
Leaf blade often with a triangular reddish blotch, per Weakley's Flora (2020).
)
Joseph M. DiTomaso, University of California - Davis, Bugwood.org bug_5387580
Month Unknown
Similar to P. longiseta, but bristles on the leaf node collars only 2mm long, per Wildflowers of the Sandhills Region (Sorrie, 2011).
)
D. Walters & C. Southwick, USDA APHIS ITP, Bugwood.org bug_5459834
Month Unknown
Achenes biconvex or triangular in cross-section, per Weakley's Flora (2012).
)
D. Walters & C. Southwick, USDA APHIS ITP, Bugwood.org bug_5459835
Month Unknown
)
D. Walters & C. Southwick, USDA APHIS ITP, Bugwood.org bug_5459836
Month Unknown
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Persicaria maculosa
FAMILY
Polygonaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Polygonum persicaria
FAMILY
Polygonaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Persicaria maculosa
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Flora of North America north of Mexico, vol. 5
Persicaria maculosa
SYNONYMOUS WITH
VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 063-04-014:
Polygonum persicaria
FAMILY
Polygonaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Persicaria persicaria
2460
Forb
Annual
Habitat: Disturbed areas, per Weakley's Flora
Non-native: Eurasia
Common (uncommon GA Piedmont & GA Coastal Plain)
CLICK HERE to see a map, notes, and images from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.
This plant may be causing problems in natural areas outside its native range, according to authorities such as:
- Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2006
- Kentucky Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2013
- Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2009
IS THE PLANT "ARMED"?
Stems, petioles and leaves unarmed
LEAVES:
Simple
Alternate
FLOWER:
Spring/Summer/Fall
Pink
5-parted calyx
Petals absent
6 stamens
Superior ovary
Bisexual
Inflorescence spikelike, usually uninterrupted
FRUIT:
Spring/Summer/Fall
Black
Nutlet
TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!
- Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control (Kaufman & Kaufman, 2007) p261
- Wildflowers of the Eastern United States (Duncan & Duncan, 1999) p004
- Wildflowers of the Southern Mountains (Smith, 1998) p033
- Wildflowers of the Sandhills Region (Sorrie, 2011) p258
If a search such as "Carex leptalea var. leptalea" doesn't deliver the results you want, try "Carex leptalea".
Or, to minimize chances of a misspelling, try just "Carex le".
Less is more: If "pencil flower" doesn't deliver the results you want, try "pencil".