Flower ID: IMG_1180.JPG-09-16-2018 Flower name (scientific): Persicaria pensylvanica (Linnaeus) M. Gómez PY: 1896. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) per-sih-KAR-ee-uh pen-sill-VAN-ee-ka Flower name (common): Pennsylvania 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: Of or from Pennsylvania. Common name origin: 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 (0.3 to 0.5 cm) Petal count: 5 Color: white or pink Other: flower arrangement, Spike Plant description: Size: 24 to 72 inches (61 to 183 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is simple Size: Leaves up to 18 cm long and 5 cm wide. Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, narrowly to broadly lanceolate (FNA) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): July to September Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Annual Habitat: Disturbed areas, waste areas, streambanks, swamps, marshes, sun or semi-shade, wet to moist. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Persicaria maculosa (Lady's-thumb) and Persicaria lapathifolia (Nodding Smartweed) are similar. Persicaria pensylvanica can display variable features including flower color, leaf width, and the extent of pubescence on different parts of the plant, which can add to the difficulty of making a postive ID of the species. Persicaria lapathifolia tends to have drooping flower clusters, whereas the racemes of Persicaria pensylvanica are straight and erect. The ocrea of P. pensylvanica are brownish, about 5 to 20 mm in length with margins eciliate or ciliate with short (0.5 mm) bristles, and sometimes with a dark blotch on the adaxial leaf surface, whereas Persicaria maculosa 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: The Menominee used the dried leaves to brew a tea, which was used to cure hemorrhage in the mouth, and also utilized with other herbs to help cure women after childbirth. In the following three references, Smith and Gilmmore use the old scientific name Polygonum pennsylvanicum (with a misspelling of the correct specific epithet pensylvanicum) (Smith, p. 47, 1923). The Meskwaki employed this plant as a cure for piles and bloody flux (Smith, pp. 236-237, 1928). The Chippewa used this species as a cure for epilepsy (Gilmore, p. 129, 1933). Latitude: 44.800233 Longitude: -91.508297 Altitude: 236.70 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, 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, 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, VA, VT, WI, WV, WY) In Canada: (MB, NB, NF, NS, ON, QC) References: Synonym(s): Basionym: Polygonum pensylvanicum Linnaeus Sp. Pl. 1: 362. 1753. Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym: na