*Persicaria perfoliata (Linnaeus) H. Gross. Section: Echinocaulon. 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. VA, MD, PA, DC, and WV. Adler (1999) reports it as occurring in PA, MD, VA, WV, DE, OH, NJ, and DC. Poindexter (2010a) reports its discovery at three separate locations in Alleghany County, NC.
Origin/Endemic status: E. and se. Asia
Synonymy ⓘ: = Can, FNA5, K4, NE, NY, Pa, Va; Polygonum arifolium L. var. perfoliatum L.; = Ampelygonum perfoliatum (L.) Roberty & Vautier; = n/a — RAB, Tat; = Polygonum perfoliatum L. — C, F, 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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© Ashley Bradford | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Ashley Bradford | Original Image ⭷
© Ashley Bradford | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
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:
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