Pale Smartweed ( (Polygonum lapathifolium)

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Pale Smartweed( (Polygonum lapathifolium)

• Family Polygonacea (pol-LIG-gon-a-see-ee) From
  the Greek polygonon from polys, many and gony,
  the knee joint. In reference to the many joints
  of the rhizomes of this family.
• Genus Polygonum (pol-LIG-go-num) - As above in
  reference to many knee joints or angles,
  possibly referring to the flexibility of the
  flower head. Alternative Pronunciation
  pol-ee-GO-nus
• Species lapathifolium (la-path-ih-FOH-lee-um)
  From the Latin lapathi, an old name for dock or
  sorrel or having leaves like sorrel or dock.

Also called nodding smartweed, curly-top
knotweed, dock-leaved smartweed, common knotweed,
willow-weed, willow smartweed, pale persicaria,
wireweed and dockleaf smartweed.
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Pale Smartweed

• Smartweed is in the buckwheat family. It is very
  common throughout North America as can be seen
  from its many common names. It is probably native
  although there is some discussion that it might
  have come from Eurasia. It reproduces quickly and
  would be considered a troublesome invasive if it
  were not native.
• Buckwheat is not in the grass family as some
  people believe but in a group all its own. Some
  buckwheat grains were once used to make
  delicious pancakes but smartweed seeds are not
  for human consumption and this is not
  recommended.
• In Altona Forest it grows in the moist soil
  around Laceys Pond.
• Pale smartweed grows from 30 to 200 cm tall but
  has not been seen over 100 cm in Altona Forest.

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The leaves are long and can be sharply pointed.
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Pale Smartweed

• Smartweed white to pale pink to bright pink
  flowers are small and bloom from July to November
  or first frost. The seeds are dispersed by birds
  and water.  

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Pale Smartweed

• The stem has a somewhat zigzag appearance and
  joints have a knotted appearance with a sheath
  remaining on the stem after the branch is fully
  developed.
• The leaves often exhibit a black splotch.

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Pale Smartweed

• Many birds, insects, and mammals do eat the
  seeds. Some 1st Nations people did use the
  highly acidic smartweeds for internal and
  external medicine.  A tradition in Mexico states
  that soaking in a smartweed bath relieves
  rheumatism.

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