Putnam Park Wildflowers


Flower ID: IMG_4340.JPG-09-04-2022
Flower name (scientific): Persicaria sagittata (Linnaeus) H. Gross PY: 1919. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) per-sih-KAR-ee-uh saj-ih-TAY-tuh
Flower name (common): Arrow-leaved Tearthumb
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: Latin for arrow-shaped, referring to the appearance of the leaves.
Common name origin: From the shape of the leaves, and from the hooked prickles on the leaf stalks, which can tear a thumb or finger.
Flower description:
     Size: 0.1 to 0.3 inches (3 to 8 mm)
     Petal count: 5 tepals (petals and sepals with a similar appearance).
     Color: white
     Other: flower arrangement, Cluster-spherical
Plant description:
     Size: 12 to 78 inches (30 to 198 cm)
     Stem hairy:
     Other:
Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is simple
     Size: Leaves up to 8 to 10 cm long and up to 3 cm wide.
     Color:
     Hairy:
     Other: Shape: leaf, broadly lanceolate to oblong with base sagittate to cordate (FNA), broadly oblong-lanceolate to arrowhead-shaped with base cordate or auriculate (MP)
Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native
Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common
Bloom time (typical): August to September
Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Annual
Habitat: Pond margins, marshes, swamps, stream banks, sun or semi-shade, moist to wet.
Fruit:
Seed:
Importance to wildlife:
Similar species (if any): Persicaria arifolia (Halberd-leaved Tearthumb) has a resemblance to Persicaria sagittata. Both species have stem prickles. To distinguish the two species, Persicaria arifolia has leaves broadly hastate to hastate-cordate or triangular with pointed basal lobes (halberd-shaped), whereas Persicaria sagittata has leaves broadly oblong-lanceolate to arrowhead-shaped with the basal lobes extending backwards.
Ethnobotany:
Latitude: 44.799993
Longitude: -91.507925
Altitude: 229.30
Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Pepin, 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: (AL, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV) Click here for distribution map
In Canada: (LB, MB, NB, NF, NS, ON, PE, QC) Click here for distribution map
References:
Synonym(s):
Basionym: Polygonum sagittatum Linnaeus Sp. Pl. 1: 363. 1753.
Homotypic Synonym(s):
Heterotypic Synonym(s):
Autonym: na
Wetland Status (NC): OBL
Wetland Status (MW): OBL