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Polygonaceae
Persicaria

not marked as a favorite taxon *Persicaria perfoliata (Linnaeus) H. Gross. Common name: Mile-a-minute-vine, Asiatic Tearthumb, Devil's-tail Tearthumb. Habitat: Roadsides, banks, powerline rights-of-way. Distribution: Native of e. Asia. Introduced and spreading rapidly in n. Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, District of Columbia, and West Virginia. Adler (1999) reports it as occurring in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, Ohio, New Jersey, and District of Columbia. Poindexter (2010a) reports its discovery at three separate locations in Alleghany County, North Carolina.

Glossary (beta!)

Section: Echinocaulon.

Origin/Endemic status: E., se., and s. Asia

Synonymy ⓘ: = Can, FNA5, K4, NE, NS, NY, Pa, POWO, Va; Polygonum arifolium L. var. perfoliatum L.; = Ampelygonum perfoliatum (L.) Roberty & Vautier; = n/a — RAB, Tat; = Polygonum perfoliatum L. — C, F, K1, Park (1988); = Tracaulon perfoliatum (L.) Greene; = Truellum perfoliatum (L.) Soják. Basionym: Polygonum arifolium L. var. perfoliatum L. 1759

Links to other floras: = Persicaria perfoliata - FNA5

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FAC

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image #1 of Persicaria perfoliata© Ashley Bradford | Original Image ⭷
image #2 of Persicaria perfoliata© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Persicaria perfoliatano rights reserved, uploaded by Daniel Atha source CC0 | Original Image ⭷
image #4 of Persicaria perfoliatano rights reserved, uploaded by Daniel Atha source CC0 | Original Image ⭷
image #5 of Persicaria perfoliatano rights reserved, uploaded by Daniel Atha source CC0 | Original Image ⭷
image #6 of Persicaria perfoliata© Ashley Bradford | Original Image ⭷
image #7 of Persicaria perfoliata© Ashley Bradford | Original Image ⭷
image #8 of Persicaria perfoliatano rights reserved, uploaded by Daniel Atha source CC0 | Original Image ⭷
image #9 of Persicaria perfoliatano rights reserved, uploaded by Daniel Atha source CC0 | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Climbing annual of disturbed forests, alluvial fields, roadsides, powerline rights-of-way and other disturbed areas. Introduced native of Asia that is spreading rapidly.

Stems: Stems clambering over other plants, branched, covered with recurved barbs.

Leaves: Leaves alternate and long-petiolate (petiole bearing recurved barbs), with an expanded, cup-shaped, leaf-like sheath (ocrea) where petiole joins stem; triangular; 1-3 in. long; pale or bluish-green; with recurved barbs beneath.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers clustered in short racemes arising from ocreae, greenish-white, less than 1/4 in. long, usually closed.

Fruits: Fruit a blue, berrylike achene.

Comments:

Height: to 10 ft. or more (long)

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Climbing annual of disturbed forests, alluvial fields, roadsides, powerline rights-of-way and other disturbed areas. Introduced native of Asia that is spreading rapidly.

stems: Stems clambering over other plants, branched, covered with recurved barbs.

leaves: Leaves alternate and long-petiolate (petiole bearing recurved barbs), with an expanded, cup-shaped, leaf-like sheath (ocrea) where petiole joins stem; triangular; 1-3 in. long; pale or bluish-green; with recurved barbs beneath.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers clustered in short racemes arising from ocreae, greenish-white, less than 1/4 in. long, usually closed.

fruits: Fruit a blue, berrylike achene.

comments:

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: