Flower ID: IMG_9527.JPG-09-15-2021 Flower name (scientific): Persicaria lapathifolia (Linnaeus) Delarbre PY: 1800. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) per-sih-KAR-ee-uh lap-ath-i-FOL-ee-ah Flower name (common): Pale Smartweed 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: Derived from the Latin lapathi an old name for dock-like or sorrel-like and folius meaning leaves, hence, with dock-like (or sorrel-like) leaves. Common name origin: From the pale colored white to pink flowers. Smartweed formed by compounding smart + weed. The use of smart could refer to the plant's ability to grow aggressively and resistance to culling measures. Smart could also be used in the sense of sharp physical pain, referring to the ability of various chemical constituents to cause skin irritation. Flower description: Size: 0.1 to 0.2 inches (3 to 5 mm) Petal count: 4 or 5 tepals (petals and sepals with a similar appearance) Color: white Other: flower arrangement, Spike Plant description: Size: 24 to 60 inches (61 to 152 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is simple Size: Leaves up to 20 cm long and 4 to 6 cm wide. Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, narrowly to broadly lanceolate (FNA) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Uncommon Bloom time (typical): July to September Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Annual Habitat: Streambanks, pond margins, mudflats, marshes, swamps, disturbed areas, waste areas, roadsides, sun or semi-shade, wet to moist. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Persicaria lapathifolia can be distinguished from other similar looking Persicaria species by its longish drooping densely flowered inflorescences of usually white flowers. Some of the other Persicaria species with drooping inflorescences have racemes with somewhat fewer flowers which are more sparsely distributed. Persicaria pensylvanica (Pennsylvania Smartweed) has some resemblance, but its flowers are often tinged pink and the inflorescences more or less erect. The perianth of Persicaria lapathifolia is not gland-dotted, which can help distinguish this species from some of the other Persicaria species. Ethnobotany: The Potawatomi utilized the plant to prepare a tea that was used to treat fevers (Smith, p. 70, 1933). The Apache, Keres, Navajo, and Zuni employed the plant to treat various ailments that included stomach issues and as an emetic (Moerman, p. 424, 1998). In these two references Smith and Moerman employ the old synonym name Polygonum lapathifolia for this plant. Latitude: 44.800062 Longitude: -91.508137 Altitude: 243.90 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, 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, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY) In Canada: (AB, BC, LB, MB, NB, NF, NS, NT, ON, PE, QC, SK, YT) References: Synonym(s): Basionym: Polygonum lapathifolium Linnaeus Sp. Pl. 1: 360. 1753. Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym: na