''Polygonum minimum'' is a species of flowering plant in the
knotweed family known by the common name broadleaf knotweed. It is native to much of western North America where it can be found in mountainous regions. It grows in the
subalpine
Montane ecosystems are found on the slopes of mountains. The alpine climate in these regions strongly affects the ecosystem because temperatures fall as elevation increases, causing the ecosystem to stratify. This stratification is a crucial f ...
and
alpine climate
Alpine climate is the typical weather (climate) for elevations above the tree line, where trees fail to grow due to cold. This climate is also referred to as a mountain climate or highland climate.
Definition
There are multiple definitions of ...
s of high mountain ranges from
Alaska
Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S., ...
to
Arizona
Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...
and
New Mexico
)
, population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano)
, seat = Santa Fe
, LargestCity = Albuquerque
, LargestMetro = Tiguex
, OfficialLang = None
, Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ker ...
.
Description
''Polygonum minimum'' is an annual herb producing slender, stiff, zigzag-angled reddish stems up to 30 centimeters (1 foot) long, growing prostrate or erect. The leaves are lance-shaped to widely oval or nearly round and are located all along the stems but most crowded near the tips.
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed o ...
s occur in the leaf axils, each bearing one or more five-lobed white flowers.
Flora of North America, ''Polygonum minimum'' S. Watson, 1871. Broad-leaf or leafy dwarf knotweed
/ref>
References
External links
Jepson Manual Treatment - ''Polygonum minimum''''Polygonum minimum'' - Calphotos Photo gallery, University of California
minimum
In mathematical analysis, the maxima and minima (the respective plurals of maximum and minimum) of a function, known collectively as extrema (the plural of extremum), are the largest and smallest value of the function, either within a given ran ...
Alpine flora
Flora of North America
Plants described in 1871
{{Polygonaceae-stub