''Persicaria'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of herbaceous

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...

s in the knotweed family,

Polygonaceae The Polygonaceae are a Family (biology), family of flowering plants known Common name, informally as the knotweed family or smartweed—buckwheat family in the United States. The Botanical name, name is Basionym, based on the genus ''Polygonum'', ...

. Plants of the genus are known commonly as knotweeds or smartweeds.''Persicaria''.
Flora of North America. It has a

cosmopolitan distribution In biogeography, a cosmopolitan distribution is the range of a taxon that extends across most or all of the surface of the Earth, in appropriate habitats; most cosmopolitan species are known to be highly adaptable to a range of climatic and en ...

, with species occurring nearly worldwide.''Persicaria''.
New South Wales Flora Online. National Herbarium, Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. The genus was segregated from ''

Polygonum ''Polygonum'' is a genus of about 130 species of flowering plants in the buckwheat and knotweed family Polygonaceae. Common names include knotweed and knotgrass (though the common names may refer more broadly to plants from Polygonaceae). In the ...

''.Wilson, K. L. (1990)
"Some widespread species of ''Persicaria'' (Polygonaceae) and their allies"
''Kew Bulletin'' 45(4) 621-36.

Description

The genus includes annual and perennial herbs with

taproot A taproot is a large, central, and dominant root from which other roots sprout laterally. Typically a taproot is somewhat straight and very thick, is tapering in shape, and grows directly downward. In some plants, such as the carrot, the taproot ...

s or fibrous root systems, or with

rhizome In botany and dendrology, a rhizome ( ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and Shoot (botany), shoots from its Node (botany), nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from ...

s or

stolon In biology, a stolon ( from Latin ''wikt:stolo, stolō'', genitive ''stolōnis'' – "branch"), also known as a runner, is a horizontal connection between parts of an organism. It may be part of the organism, or of its skeleton. Typically, animal ...

s. The stems are often erect but may be prostrate along the ground, and some species are prickly. The stems are self-supporting or twining and climbing.''Persicaria''.
FloraBase. Western Australian Herbarium. The leaves are alternately arranged,

deciduous In the fields of horticulture and botany, the term deciduous () means "falling off at maturity" and "tending to fall off", in reference to trees and shrubs that seasonally shed Leaf, leaves, usually in the autumn; to the shedding of petals, aft ...

, and variously shaped. The brownish or reddish

ochrea An ochrea (Latin ''ocrea'', greave or protective legging), also spelled ocrea, is a plant structure formed of stipules fused into a sheath surrounding the stem, and is typically found in the Polygonaceae The Polygonaceae are a Family (biology ...

may be leathery to papery. The

inflorescence In botany, an inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a plant's Plant stem, stem that is composed of a main branch or a system of branches. An inflorescence is categorized on the basis of the arrangement of flowers on a mai ...

may be a

panicle In botany, a panicle is a much-branched inflorescence. (softcover ). Some authors distinguish it from a compound spike inflorescence, by requiring that the flowers (and fruit) be pedicellate (having a single stem per flower). The branches of a p ...

or a spikelike or headlike arrangement of fascicles of flowers. The flower is white, greenish, reddish, pink or purple, with the

tepal A tepal is one of the outer parts of a flower (collectively the perianth). The term is used when these parts cannot easily be classified as either sepals or petals. This may be because the parts of the perianth are undifferentiated (i.e. of very ...

s partially fused together along the bases. The fruit is an

achene An achene (; ), also sometimes called akene and occasionally achenium or achenocarp, is a type of simple fruit, simple dry fruits, dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate (formed from one carpel) and Dehi ...

which can take a number of shapes, including a disc or a sphere. Persicaria amphibia kz3.jpg, ''

Persicaria amphibia ''Persicaria amphibia'' (Synonym (taxonomy), syn. ''Polygonum amphibium'') is a species of flowering plant in the Polygonaceae, knotweed family known by several common names, including longroot smartweed, water knotweed, water smartweed, and amph ...

'' (MHNT) Persicaria microcephala Inflorescence - Les Martels, Giroussens Tarn.jpg, ''

Persicaria microcephala ''Persicaria microcephala'' (syn. ''Polygonum microcephalum''), the small-headed knotweed, is a species of flowering plant in the family Polygonaceae. It is native to the Himalayas, and central and southern China, and it has been introduced to Gr ...

'' Persicaria glabra in Narshapur forest, AP W IMG 1109.jpg, ''

Persicaria glabra ''Persicaria glabra'', also known as denseflower knotweed, is a species of flowering plant native Native may refer to: People * '' Jus sanguinis'', nationality by blood * '' Jus soli'', nationality by location of birth * Indigenous peoples, p ...

'' Polygonum longisetum 3.JPG, ''

Persicaria longiseta ''Persicaria longiseta'' is a species of flowering plant in the knotweed family known by the common names Oriental lady's thumb, bristly lady's thumb, Asiatic smartweed, long-bristled smartweed, low smartweed, Asiatic waterpepper, bristled knotw ...

'' Persicaria minor flower and leaves.jpg, ''

Persicaria minor ''Persicaria minor'' is species of herb in the family Polygonaceae. Common names include pygmy smartweed, small water pepper and swamp willow weed. This herb is native to Asia, but distributed widely in Europe and Australia. It is used in South E ...

'' Persicaria orientalis02.jpg, ''

Persicaria orientalis ''Persicaria orientalis'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Polygonaceae, known as kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate and princess-feather. It was first described, as ''Polygonum orientale'', by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. It was transferred t ...

Taxonomy

Within the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

, ''Persicaria'' is placed in the

subfamily In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end botanical subfamily names with "-oideae", and zo ...

Polygonoideae Polygonoideae is a subfamily of plants in the family Polygonaceae. It includes a number of plants that can be highly invasive, such as Japanese knotweed, '' Reynoutria japonica'', and its hybrid with '' R. sachalinensis'', ''R.'' × ''bohemica' ...

, where the

tribe The term tribe is used in many different contexts to refer to a category of human social group. The predominant worldwide use of the term in English is in the discipline of anthropology. The definition is contested, in part due to conflict ...

Persicarieae consists of two

sister A sister is a woman or a girl who shares parents or a parent with another individual; a female sibling. The male counterpart is a brother. Although the term typically refers to a familial relationship, it is sometimes used endearingly to ref ...

genera, ''

Bistorta ''Bistorta'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Polygonaceae. about 40 species are accepted. It has been supported as a separate clade by Molecular phylogenetics, molecular phylogenetic analysis. ''Bistorta'' species are native through ...

'' and ''

Koenigia :Koenigia'' as described by Philibert Commerçon is a synonym of ''Dombeya. ''Koenigia'' is a genus of plants in the family Polygonaceae. The genus ''Aconogonon'' has been merged into ''Koenigia''. Description Species of ''Koenigia'' are annual ...

'', together with ''Persicaria''.

Species

, the following 132 species were accepted: * '' Persicaria acuminata'' * '' Persicaria akakiensis'' * '' Persicaria × ambigua'' * ''

'' – amphibious bistort, water smartweed * '' Persicaria angustifolia'' * '' Persicaria arifolia'' – halberd-leaf tearthumb * '' Persicaria assamica'' * '' Persicaria attenuata'' * '' Persicaria barbata'' * '' Persicaria × bicolor'' * '' Persicaria biconvexa'' * '' Persicaria bicornis'' – pink smartweed * ''

Persicaria borneensis ''Persicaria'' is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the knotweed family, Polygonaceae. Plants of the genus are known commonly as knotweeds or smartweeds.Persicaria × brauniana'' * '' Persicaria breviochreata'' * '' Persicaria bungeana'' – prickly smartweed * ''

Persicaria capitata ''Persicaria capitata'', the pink-headed persicaria, pinkhead smartweed, pink knotweed, Japanese knotweed, or pink bubble persicaria, is an Asian species of plants in the genus ''Persicaria'' within the Polygonaceae (US: buckwheat) family. It is ...

'' – pink-head knotweed * '' Persicaria careyi'' – pink-head knotweed * '' Persicaria celebica'' * '' Persicaria cespitosa'' * '' Persicaria changhuaensis'' * '' Persicaria chinensis'' – Chinese knotweed * '' Persicaria clivorum'' * '' Persicaria × condensata'' * ''

Persicaria criopolitana ''Persicaria'' is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the knotweed family, Polygonaceae. Plants of the genus are known commonly as knotweeds or smartweeds.Persicaria debilis'' * '' Persicaria decipiens'' – slender knotweed, willow-weed * '' Persicaria dichotoma'' * '' Persicaria diospyrifolia'' * '' Persicaria dissitiflora'' * '' Persicaria eciliata'' * '' Persicaria elatior'' * '' Persicaria erectominor'' * '' Persicaria extremiorientalis'' * '' Persicaria ferruginea'' * '' Persicaria × figertii'' * '' Persicaria filiformis'' * '' Persicaria foliosa'' * '' Persicaria galapagensis'' * '' Persicaria geocarpica'' * ''

'' – smooth smartweed * '' Persicaria glacialis'' * '' Persicaria glandulopilosa'' * '' Persicaria glomerata'' * '' Persicaria greuteriana'' * '' Persicaria hassegawae'' * '' Persicaria hastatosagittata'' * '' Persicaria × hervieri'' * '' Persicaria hirsuta'' – hairy smartweed * '' Persicaria hispida'' * '' Persicaria huananensis'' * '' Persicaria humboldtiana'' * '' Persicaria humilis'' * '' Persicaria × hybrida'' * '' Persicaria hydropiper'' – water-pepper, marsh-pepper smartweed * ''

Persicaria hydropiperoides ''Persicaria hydropiperoides'', commonly called swamp smartweed, mild waterpepper, false waterpepper, or sometimes simply waterpepper, is a species of flowering plant in the buckwheat family. It has a widespread distribution across much of North ...

'' – swamp smartweed, mild water-pepper * '' Persicaria hystricula'' * '' Persicaria imeretina'' * '' Persicaria × intercedens'' * '' Persicaria japonica'' * '' Persicaria javanica'' * '' Persicaria jucunda'' * '' Persicaria kawagoeana'' * '' Persicaria lanata'' * '' Persicaria lankeshanensis'' * ''

Persicaria lapathifolia ''Persicaria lapathifolia'' (synonym (taxonomy), syn. ''Polygonum lapathifolium''), known as pale persicaria, is a plant of the family Polygonaceae. It is considered to be native throughout most of the world, from arctic to tropical realms, ex ...

'' – pale persicaria * '' Persicaria leblebicii'' * '' Persicaria lii'' * '' Persicaria limbata'' * '' Persicaria limicola'' * ''

Persicaria longiflora ''Persicaria'' is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the knotweed family, Polygonaceae. Plants of the genus are known commonly as knotweeds or smartweeds.Persicaria longiseta ''Persicaria longiseta'' is a species of flowering plant in the knotweed family known by the common names Oriental lady's thumb, bristly lady's thumb, Asiatic smartweed, long-bristled smartweed, low smartweed, Asiatic waterpepper, bristled knotw ...

'' – bristly lady's thumb * '' Persicaria maackiana'' * '' Persicaria macrantha'' * ''

Persicaria maculosa ''Persicaria maculosa'' (syn. ''Polygonum persicaria'') is an annual plant in the Polygonaceae, buckwheat family, Polygonaceae. Common names include lady's thumb, spotted lady's thumb, Jesusplant, and redshank. It is widespread across Eurasia fro ...

'' – Jesusplant, spotted lady's thumb, redshank * '' Persicaria madagascariensis'' * ''

Persicaria manshuricola ''Persicaria'' is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the knotweed family, Polygonaceae. Plants of the genus are known commonly as knotweeds or smartweeds.Persicaria meisneriana'' – Mexican tearthumb * ''

'' * '' Persicaria mikawana'' * ''

'' – small water-pepper * '' Persicaria mitis'' * '' Persicaria muricata'' * '' Persicaria × musashinoensis'' * '' Persicaria nakaii'' * '' Persicaria nataliae'' * '' Persicaria neofiliformis'' * '' Persicaria nepalensis'' – Nepal knotweed * '' Persicaria nogueirae'' * '' Persicaria obtusifolia'' * ''

Persicaria odorata ''Persicaria odorata'', with common names Vietnamese coriander, rau răm (from Vietnamese), laksa leaf (calque from Malay ''daun laksa''), Vietnamese cilantro, phak phai (from Thai: ผักแพว), praew leaf, hot mint, Cambodian mint and ...

'' – Vietnamese coriander * ''

'' – kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate, prince's feather, princess-feather * '' Persicaria palmata'' * '' Persicaria paradoxa'' * '' Persicaria paraguayensis'' * '' Persicaria paralimicola'' * '' Persicaria pensylvanica'' – Pennsylvania smartweed * ''

Persicaria perfoliata ''Persicaria perfoliata'' (basionym ''Polygonum perfoliatum'') is a species of flowering plant in the Polygonaceae, buckwheat family. Common names include mile-a-minute, devil's tail, giant climbing tearthumb, and Asiatic tearthumb. It is a traili ...

Persicaria sagittifolia ''Persicaria'' is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the knotweed family, Polygonaceae. Plants of the genus are known commonly as knotweeds or smartweeds.Persicaria segetum'' * '' Persicaria senegalensis'' * '' Persicaria senticosa'' * '' Persicaria setacea'' – bog smartweed * '' Persicaria setosula'' * '' Persicaria sinica'' * '' Persicaria sinuata'' * '' Persicaria snobarii'' * '' Persicaria stagnina'' * '' Persicaria stelligera'' * '' Persicaria strigosa'' – spotted knotweed * '' Persicaria strindbergii'' * '' Persicaria subsessilis'' * ''

Persicaria sylvestris ''Persicaria'' is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the knotweed family, Polygonaceae. Plants of the genus are known commonly as knotweeds or smartweeds.Persicaria taitoinsularis'' * '' Persicaria taquetii'' * '' Persicaria thunbergii'' * ''

Persicaria tinctoria ''Persicaria tinctoria'' is a species of flowering plant in the buckwheat family. Common names include Chinese indigo, Japanese indigo and dyer's knotweed. It is native to Southern China and Vietnam, and has been introduced to other parts of Chi ...

'' – Chinese indigo, polygonum-indigo * ''

Persicaria tomentosa ''Persicaria'' is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the knotweed family, Polygonaceae. Plants of the genus are known commonly as knotweeds or smartweeds.Persicaria trigonocarpa'' * '' Persicaria umbrosa'' * '' Persicaria virginiana'' – jumpseed * '' Persicaria viscofera'' * '' Persicaria viscosa'' * '' Persicaria wellensii'' * '' Persicaria × wilmsii'' * '' Persicaria wugongshanensis''

Citations

General and cited references

* {{Authority control Polygonaceae genera Taxa named by Philip Miller