Pennsylvania smartweed

Polygonum pensylvanicum

''Polygonum pensylvanicum'' is a species of flowering plant in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae. It is native to parts of North America, where it is widespread in Canada and the United States. It has also been noted as an introduced species in parts of Europe and South America. Common names include Pennsylvania smartweed and pinkweed.
Pennsylvania Smartweed Dense, terminal, spike-like clusters of small white and pink flowers. The bases of the leaves form a distinctive cylindrical sheath where the stalk joins the stem. This plant is an important part of the habitat for many kinds of birds, which use it for cover and food. In fact, there are at least 50 species of birds that eat the seeds. Geotagged,Pennsylvania Smartweed,Polygonum pensylvanicum,Summer,United States,flower

Appearance

Pennsylvania smartweed is a variable annual herb reaching 10 cm to 2 m tall. The upright, ribbed stems are branching or unbranched. The lance-shaped leaves reach up to about 2 cm in length. The blade may be marked with a dark blotch. The brownish ochrea at the base is up to 2 cm . The inflorescences grow at the top of the stem and from the leaf axils. The flowers have five pinkish or greenish tepals each a few millimeters long.

This plant grows in moist, disturbed habitat types, such as ponds, reservoirs, riverbanks, irrigated fields, and ditches.
Pennsylvania Smartweed Dense, terminal, spike-like clusters of small white and pink flowers. The bases of the leaves form a distinctive cylindrical sheath where the stalk joins the stem. This plant is an important part of the habitat for many kinds of birds, which use it for cover and food. In fact, there are at least 50 species of birds that eat the seeds. Habitat: Next to a pond Geotagged,Pennsylvania smartweed,Polygonum pensylvanicum,Summer,United States,smartweed

Habitat

This plant is an important part of the habitat for waterfowl and other birds, which use it for food and cover. At least 50 species of birds have been observed feeding on the seeds, including ducks, geese, rails, bobwhites, mourning dove, and ring-necked pheasant. The seeds and other parts are eaten by mammals such as the white-footed mouse, muskrat, raccoon, and fox squirrel.

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Status: Unknown
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Taxonomy
KingdomPlantae
DivisionAngiosperms
ClassEudicots
OrderCaryophyllales
FamilyPolygonaceae
GenusPolygonum
SpeciesP. pensylvanicum
Photographed in
United States of America