Flower ID: IMG_1766.JPG-08-13-2017 Flower name (scientific): Persicaria maculosa Samuel Gray PY: 1821 (publ. 1822). Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) per-sih-KAR-ee-uh mak-yoo-LOH-suh (or mac-you-LOH-suh) Flower name (common): Lady's-thumb 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: Spotted, bearing spots, or blotched. Common name origin: From the darkish colored blotch on the leaves, which supposedly resembles a lady's thumb. Flower description: Size: 0.1 to 0.2 inches (0.3 to 0.5 cm) Petal count: 5 Color: Pink to red Other: flower arrangement, Spike Plant description: Size: 12 to 32 inches (30 to 81 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is simple Size: Leaves typically up to 10 cm long and may reach 18 cm long and 2.5 cm wide. Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, lanceolate to narrowly ovate (FNA) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Introduced, naturalized Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): July to September Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Annual Habitat: Meadows, streambanks, marsh areas, disturbed areas, roadsides, waste areas, sun or semi-shade, moist to wet. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Persicaria longiseta (Oriental Lady's-thumb) has a resemblance. To distinguish these two species, note that the Persicaria longiseta ocreolae have ciliate margins with bristles typically 1 to 4 mm long and has ocrea hyaline to brownish, about 5 to 12 mm in length that are ciliate with bristles 4 to 12 mm long, and the adaxial surface of the leaf blade does not have a dark blotch, whereas the Persicaria maculosa ocreolae have margins ciliate with bristles typically 0.2 to 1.3 mm long and has ocrea light brown typically 4 to 10 mm in length, ciliate with hairs 1 to 3.5 mm in length, and the adaxial surface of the leaf blade typically has a dark blotch present. Ethnobotany: Latitude: Longitude: Altitude: Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, 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, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, 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) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (AB, BC, LB, MB, NB, NF, NS, ON, PE, QC, SK, YT) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: Polygonum persicaria Linnaeus Sp. Pl. 1: 361. 1753. Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym:Persicaria maculosa var. maculosa (The other infraspecific is Persicaria maculosa var. amblyophylla (H. Hara) Yonekura which has not been recorded from North America.) Wetland Status (NC): FAC Wetland Status (MW): FACW