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Comments are encouraged and appreciated. We are amateur botanist, and we do make mistakes sometimes with our identifications. We strive to make this a good identifying resource. All comments are moderated by me and may take several days to appear. This is due to the high number of inappropriate comments that have nothing to do with this subject.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Curlytop Knotweed (Polygonum lapathifolium)

Curlytop Knotweed (Polygonum lapathifolium) is also known as Curl-top smartweed and Pale smartweed. 

Member of the Buckwheat family.

Stems - To 2m tall, glabrous.  Leaves - Alternate, glabrous, to 30cm long, 6cm wide, typically lanceolate, with impressed veins on the adaxial surface near the midrib. Ocrea not fringed with cilia and glabrous. Inflorescence - Terminal, loose, panicles and axillary racemes. Each flower cluster to 8cm long(tall), 3-9mm thick, nodding.

 Flowers small (2-3mm long),  creamy white to slightly pinkish, dense in cluster.
Bloom Time: July - October
Where Found: Moist soils, disturbed sites, gravel bars, roadsides, and railroads.
Origin - Found in U.S. and Eurasia. Probably introduced in North America.
 
Notes:  This plant can get quite tall and is easily distinguished by the nodding racemes of the panicle. The leaves sometimes have a dark splotch in the center.  
 

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