Persicaria hydropiperoides (Michaux) Small. Section: Persicaria. Common name: Waterpepper. Phenology: May-Nov. Habitat: Swamp forests, streams, ditches. Distribution: NS, ON, and AK, south to FL, TX, and CA, and into the New World tropics.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, Can, FNA5, K4, Mex, Mi, Mo3, NE, NY, Pa, Tn, Va; = Polygonum hydropiperoides Michx. — Bah, NcTx, W, WH3, WV, Horton (1972); > Persicaria hydropiperoides (Michx.) Small — S; > Persicaria hydropiperoides (Michx.) Small var. bushiana (Stanford) Mohlenbr. — Il; > Persicaria hydropiperoides (Michx.) Small — Il, Tx; > Persicaria hydropiperoides (Michx.) Small var. opelousana (Riddell ex Small) J.S.Wilson — Tx; > Persicaria opelousana (Riddell ex Small) Small — Il, S, S13; > Persicaria persicarioides (Kunth) Small — S13; > Polygonum hydropiperoides Michx. — GW2, Tat, Mitchell & Dean (1978); > Polygonum hydropiperoides Michx. var. breviciliatum Fernald — F; > Polygonum hydropiperoides Michx. var. bushianum Stanford — F; > Polygonum hydropiperoides Michx. var. digitatum Fernald — F; > Polygonum hydropiperoides Michx. var. euronotorum Fernald — F; > Polygonum hydropiperoides Michx. var. hydropiperoides — C, F, RAB; > Polygonum hydropiperoides Michx. var. opelousanum (Riddell ex Small) Riddell ex W.Stone — C, RAB; > Polygonum hydropiperoides Michx. var. psilostachyum H.St.John — F; > Polygonum opelousanum Riddell — GW2, Tat, Mitchell & Dean (1978); > Polygonum opelousanum Riddell var. adenocalyx Stanford — F; > Polygonum opelousanum Riddell var. opelousanum — F; Polygonum hydropiperoides Michx. Basionym: Polygonum hydropiperoides Michx. 1803
Links to other floras: = Persicaria hydropiperoides - FNA5
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL
- Great Plains: OBL
- Midwest: OBL
- Northcentral & Northeast: OBL
Heliophily ⓘ: 7
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect or sprawling perennial of swamp forests, streams and ditches.
Stems: Stems often leaning on ground and forming mats (rooting at nodes) but turning upward at ends; occasionally branched, slightly hairy above and smooth below.
Leaves: Leaves alternate, short-petiolate and with a fringed sheath (ocrea) where petiole joins stem, lance-shaped, 2-8 in. long (reduced upward), smooth or hairy, lacking the red blotch of some other Persicaria species.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers closely spaced in terminal and axillary spikes (to 3 in. long); pale pink to greenish-white; less than 1/4 in. wide; consisting of 5 ascending tepals united at their bases, 8 stamens and a 3-parted style.
Fruits:
Comments:
Height: to 3 ft.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect or sprawling perennial of swamp forests, streams and ditches.
stems: Stems often leaning on ground and forming mats (rooting at nodes) but turning upward at ends; occasionally branched, slightly hairy above and smooth below.
leaves: Leaves alternate, short-petiolate and with a fringed sheath (ocrea) where petiole joins stem, lance-shaped, 2-8 in. long (reduced upward), smooth or hairy, lacking the red blotch of some other Persicaria species.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers closely spaced in terminal and axillary spikes (to 3 in. long); pale pink to greenish-white; less than 1/4 in. wide; consisting of 5 ascending tepals united at their bases, 8 stamens and a 3-parted style.
fruits:
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range:
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