POLYGONUM AVICULARE subsp. NEGLECTUM

Including:- Polygonum longipes

Family and Genus:- See- POLYGONACEAE/Sect. POLYGONUM/P.

AVICULARE Group

Common Names:- Knotgrass

Homotypic Synonyms:- Polygonum angustum

Meaning:- Polygonum (Gr) Many joints, a name used by the Greek physician and

botanist Dioscorides a possible reference to the many nodes.

Aviculare (L) Of small birds, eaten by small birds

Neglectum (L) Overlooked, neglected.

General description:- Low, prostrate or sprawling perennial with a woody stock.

Leaves:-

1) 15-50 x 5-18 mm, alternate, simple, oval, elliptic or lanceolate, entire, hairy,

plain.

2) Ochrea, brownish, jagged at the top, in middle part of the stem usually shorter,

with few, weak veins

Flowers:-

1) 1-2 mm diam., almost sessile, connate in long clusters by 1-4 at the axil of the

leaves, white or pink, with green marks.

2) Perianth, with 5 partly fused tepals.

3) Stamens, often 8 with a white filament and yellow anther.

4) Styles, 3.

Fruit:-

1) Nutlet, 2.1-2.4 mm, enclosed in perianth, ± flattened with the shortest side

concave. without wings, blackish, dull.

Key features:-

1) Larger leaves, usually 5-20 mm wide, lanceolate to ovate.

2) Perianth-segments, broad, overlapping.

3) Petiole, included in the ochrea.

4) Nutlet, 2.1-2.4 mm.

Click here for a glossary of terms used

Habitat:- Cultivate land, ruderal habitats, vernal pools, trampled ground, dolines. 0-

1600 m.

Distribution:- Throughout Greece. Probably native to Europe, but now an almost

cosmopolitan weed. Somewhat limited distribution across Crete, but probably under

recorded.

Flowering time:- Mainly (Apr-)June-Oct.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton

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POLYGONUM LONGIPES Back to Top

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Longipes (L) Long stalked.

Resembling Polygonum. aviculare, but differering in the following characters

1) Often larger.

2) Biennial or short-lived perennial.

3) Most flower clusters aggregated in terminal and axillary spikes.

4) Perianth segments, connate nearly halfway.

5) Nutlet, slightly smaller (usually 1.6-2.2 mm).

Habitat:- Seashores, roadsides and ruderal habitats 0-800(-1300) m.

Distribution:- Scattered throughout Greece. - Balkan Peninsular. Rare on Crete

known only from a few scattered locations, (see map).

Flowering time:- June-September(-November)

Photos by:-