Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Eudicots: Core Eudicots: Caryophyllales
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Persicaria maculosa
FAMILY
Polygonaceae
Go to FSUS key
Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
Check out EDDMapS.org to see where this has been reported.
Read more about Spotted Lady's-thumb at Vascular Plants of North Carolina.
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Polygonum persicaria
FAMILY
Polygonaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Persicaria maculosa
SYNONYMOUS WITH Flora of North America
Persicaria maculosa
SYNONYMOUS WITH VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 063-04-014:
Polygonum persicaria FAMILY Polygonaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Persicaria persicaria
COMMON NAME:
Spotted Lady's-thumb, Heart's-ease
To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.
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USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913 pnd_pepe18_001_lvd
)
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA Wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide pnd_pope3_003_lvd
)
Keith Bradley kab_p_maculosa_73082
March Miami-Dade County FL
)
Keith Bradley kab_p_maculosa_73089
March Miami-Dade County FL
)
Keith Bradley kab_p_maculosa_73102
March Miami-Dade County FL
Spikes of flowers upright, per Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control (Kaufman & Kaufman, 2007).
)
Keith Bradley kab_p_maculosa_73130
March Miami-Dade County FL
)
JK Marlow jkm180828_4293
August Jackson County NC
Big Ridge Preserve
The tiny flowers are pale pink, but while in bud a much deeper pink, per www.first-nature.com.
)
JK Marlow jkm180828_4296
August Jackson County NC
Big Ridge Preserve
)
JK Marlow jkm180828_4298
August Jackson County NC
Big Ridge Preserve
Bristles of ocreae 0.2-1.3 (-2) mm long, per Weakley's Flora (2020).
COMPARE
ocreae of Jumpseed and Smartweed species
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Dan Tenaglia, Missouriplants.com, Bugwood.org bug_5350077
Month Unknown
)
Dan Tenaglia, Missouriplants.com, Bugwood.org bug_5350078
Month Unknown
)
Joseph M. DiTomaso, University of California - Davis, Bugwood.org bug_5387577
Month Unknown
)
Joseph M. DiTomaso, University of California - Davis, Bugwood.org bug_5387579
Month Unknown
Leaf blade often with a triangular reddish blotch, per Weakley's Flora (2020).
)
Joseph M. DiTomaso, University of California - Davis, Bugwood.org bug_5387580
Month Unknown
Similar to P. longiseta, but bristles on the leaf node collars only 2mm long, per Wildflowers of the Sandhills Region (Sorrie, 2011).
)
D. Walters & C. Southwick, USDA APHIS ITP, Bugwood.org bug_5459834
Month Unknown
Achenes biconvex or triangular in cross-section, per Weakley's Flora (2012).
)
D. Walters & C. Southwick, USDA APHIS ITP, Bugwood.org bug_5459835
Month Unknown
)
D. Walters & C. Southwick, USDA APHIS ITP, Bugwood.org bug_5459836
Month Unknown
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Persicaria maculosa
FAMILY
Polygonaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Polygonum persicaria
FAMILY
Polygonaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Persicaria maculosa
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Flora of North America
Persicaria maculosa
SYNONYMOUS WITH
VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 063-04-014:
Polygonum persicaria
FAMILY
Polygonaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Persicaria persicaria
2460
Forb
Annual
Habitat: Disturbed areas, per Weakley's Flora
Non-native: Eurasia
Common (uncommon GA Piedmont & GA Coastal Plain)
Click here to see a map, notes, and images from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.
Click here to see a map showing all occurrences known to SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria. (Zoom in to see more detail.)
This plant may be causing problems in natural areas outside its native range, according to authorities such as:
- Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2006
- Kentucky Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2013
- Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2009
IS THE PLANT "ARMED"?
Stems, petioles and leaves unarmed
LEAVES:
Simple
Alternate
FLOWER:
Spring/Summer/Fall
Pink
Bisexual
5-parted calyx
Petals absent
6 stamens
Superior ovary
Inflorescence spikelike, usually uninterrupted
FRUIT:
Spring/Summer/Fall
Black
Nutlet
TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!
- Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control (Kaufman & Kaufman, 2007) p261
- Wildflowers of the Eastern United States (Duncan & Duncan, 1999) p004
- Wildflowers of the Southern Mountains (Smith, 1998) p033
- Wildflowers of the Sandhills Region (Sorrie, 2011) p258