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Polygonaceae
Persicaria

not marked as a favorite taxon Persicaria hydropiperoides (Michaux) Small. 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.

Glossary (beta!)

Section: Persicaria.

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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image #1 of Persicaria hydropiperoides© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image #2 of Persicaria hydropiperoides© Nathan Aaron, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Nathan Aaron source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Persicaria hydropiperoides© Jeffrey S. Pippen | Original Image ⭷
image #4 of Persicaria hydropiperoides© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image #5 of Persicaria hydropiperoides© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #7 of Persicaria hydropiperoides© Jeffrey S. Pippen | Original Image ⭷
image #9 of Persicaria hydropiperoides© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image #10 of Persicaria hydropiperoides© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image #11 of Persicaria hydropiperoides© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

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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