Polygonum perfoliatum L.
-
Authority
Park, Chong-Wook. 1988. Taxonomy of Polygonum Section Echinocaulon (Polygonaceae). Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 47: 1-88.
-
Family
Polygonaceae
-
Scientific Name
-
Description
Species Description - Scandent or climbing glabrous herb, somewhat woody at the base, 1-6 m tall; stem green, branched, angled, densely armed with recurved prickles along the angles; prickles stout, broad-based, ca. 1 mm long. Leaves long-petioled; blades thin, membranous, pale green, often glaucous below, triangular, 4-7 cm long, 4.5-9 cm wide, acute to subacute at the apex, truncate to weakly cordate, often weakly hastate with obtuse triangular lobes at the base, usually sparsely re-trorsely prickly at the margin; midveins and major veins beneath retrorsely prickly; petioles 4.5-8 cm long, moderately armed with recurved prickles. Ocreae foliaceous, green, orbicular, perfoliate, completely surrounding the node, 0.9-1.4 cm in diameter. Inflorescences terminal or in the axils of upper leaves, elongate, unbranched, 5-12 cm long, retrorsely prickly; inflorescence bracts resembling ocreae; each inflorescence axis terminated by a dense somewhat spikelike cluster of 10-15 flower fascicles. Flower fascicles 2- to 3-flowered, closely spaced; bracts elliptic, acuminate, 1-2 mm long; bracteoles broadly elliptic, ca. 2 mm long; pedicels very short, 2-3 mm long, almost included in bracteoles; perianth pale greenish-white, deeply 5-parted, 2-3.5 mm long; tepals broadly elliptic, becoming fleshy and blue in fruit; stamens eight, inserted at the base of perianth in two whorls; inner stamens three, ca. 1.2 mm long; outer stamens five, ca. 1 mm long; style one, ca. 1.5 mm long, deeply 3-cleft, included; stigmas three. Achenes spheroidal, black, smooth, shiny, 3-3.5 mm long.
-
Discussion
1. Polygonum perfoliatum L., Syst. nat., ed. 10. 1006. 1759. Fagopyrum perfoliatum (L.) Raf., Fl. tellur. 3: 10. 1837. Echinocaulon perfoliatum (L.) Meisner ex Hasskarl, Flora 25(2): 20. 1842 (“Echinocaulos perfoliatus”). Chylocalyx perfoliatus (L.) Hasskarl ex Miquel, Fl. Ned. Ind. 1(1): 1012. 1858. Tracaulon perfoliatum (L.) Greene, Leafl. Bot. Observ. Crit. 1: 22. 1904. Persicaria perfoliata (L.) Gross in Loesener, Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 37: 113. 1920. Ampelygonum perfoliatum (L.) Roberty & Vautier, Boissiera 10: 31. 1964. Truellum perfoliatum (L.) Sojak, Preslia 46: 148. 1974. Type. India. Without specific locality and date, Bur-man s.n. [holotype, LINN 510.35 (microfiche at NY!)]. Polygonum perfoliatum is closely related to P. senticosum, and the two species are very similar in most morphological characters including an extensive climbing habit, long-petioled triangular leaves, and foliaceous ocreae. The two species also have identical flavonoid profiles (Park, 1987), providing additional evidence of close phylogenetic relationship. Polygonum perfoliatum can be readily distinguished from P. senticosum by its unbranched inflorescence and fleshy texture of perianth in fruit.
-
Distribution
U.S.A. Maryland. Baltimore Co.: Gwynns Falls, stream nr. Liberty Rd. and Baltimore Beltway intersectional Oct 1977, Latane s.n. (UNC); Owings Mills, Bonita Ave., wet place nr. stream, 17 Aug 1982, Park 310 (BH). Harford Co.: The Rocks, along Deer Creek, 22 Sep 1971, Reed 91891 (UNC). Prince George’s Co.: College Park, weed in shrubs at NW side of Health Center at roadside, University of Maryland Campus, 17 Jul 1980, Hill 9343 (NY); College Park, shady place nr. University of Maryland Campus, 1
United States of America North America| Russia Asia| Vietnam Asia|