Flower ID: IMG_8952.JPG-08-25-2021 Flower name (scientific): Persicaria hydropiper (Linnaeus) Delarbre PY: 1800. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) per-sih-KAR-ee-uh hi-dro-PIE-per Flower name (common): Marsh Waterpepper Family name (common): Buckwheat Family name (scientific): Polygonaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: From classical Latin persicum, for peach. Referring to the similarity of the leaves of the plant to the leaves of the peach tree. Specific epithet: From hydro for water and classical Latin piper for pepper, originally derived from the Sanskrit pippali and from ancient Greek πιπέρι. Common name origin: Marsh refers to one of the common wet habitats for this plant as does water. Pepper refers to the peppery taste if the plant is eaten, which is unwise for this plant. Flower description: Size: 0.1 to 0.2 inches (3 to 5 mm) Petal count: 5 or 4 tepals (petals and sepals with a similar appearance). Color: white or pink Other: flower arrangement, Raceme Plant description: Size: 6 to 30 inches (15 to 76 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is simple Size: Leaves typically up to 10 cm long and 2.5 cm wide. Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, lanceolate to narrowly rhombic (FNA) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Introduced Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): July to September Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Annual Habitat: Banks of streams and rivers, pond and lake margins, marshes, sun or semi-shade, moist to wet. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Two similar species are Persicaria punctata (Dotted Smartweed) and Persicaria hydropiperoides (Mild Waterpepper). P. punctata has dotted tepals that can resemble the punctate dots on the perianth of P. hydropiper. It may require magnification to see these dots. P. punctata has a usually erect inflorescence, white to greenish flowers on the stem tips and not from the leaf axils, whereas P. hydropiper often has a nodding inflorescence, flowers that are greenish or pink below and white near the apex, and arise from the stem tips or the leaf axils. Persicaria hydropiperoides (Mild Waterpepper) is also similar, but this species lacks glandular pits on the sepals. The wavy appearance of the leaves, the lack of a dark blotch on the leaf surface, and the brown-reddish sheath may aid in the identification of P. hydropiper. Ethnobotany: No recorded uses by tribes from Wisconsin. The Cherokee, Iroquois, and Malecite used the plant for several ailments including urinary track issues, diarrhea, headaches, fevers, kidney issues. The Cherokee used the plant as a food source and the Iroquois utilzed the plant as a pepper (Moerman, pp. 423-424, 1998). In this reference Moerman employs the old synonym name Polygonum hydropiper for this plant. Latitude: 44.800017 Longitude: -91.507867 Altitude: 246.50 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AK, AL, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (BC, MB, NB, NF, NS, ON, PE, QC) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: Polygonum hydropiper Linnaeus Sp. Pl. 1: 361. 1753. Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym: na Wetland Status (NC): OBL Wetland Status (MW): OBL