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Persicaria capitata

(Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don) H.Gross (1913)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-CoreEudicot Order: Caryophyllales Family: Polygonaceae Genus: Persicaria

heartweed, knotweed, pink-head knotweed, smartweed

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Mat–forming perennial herbs from a stout woody root.

Stems: Stems prostrate, sometimes rooting at the nodes, 0.5–3.5 dm long, many-branched.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Blades elliptic–ovate to elliptic, 1–4(–6.2) cm long, 0.6–2.5(–3.3) cm wide. Surfaces sparsely strigillose, with a conspicuous purple v–shaped band, occasionally also tinged red or purple. Margins glandular ciliate. Petioles 1–4 mm long, glandular villous, usually with an auricle that clasps the stem. Stipules present as an ocreae, reddish brown, tubular, to 6–10 mm long, glandular hirsute, apex glandular ciliate.

Flowers: Flowers in subglobose or capitate spikes, these 1 to several at the ends of the branches. Peduncles with purple glandular hairs. Flowers bisexual (perfect), actinomorphic. Tepals (4)5(6), usually petaloid, persistent, pink, 2–2.5 mm long. Stamens 3–9, but usually 5, exserted or included; anthers dithecal, opening by longitudinal slits. Ovary superior, (2)3(4)-carpellate, 1-celled; ovule 1; styles 2–3, distinct or connate basally, deciduous; stigmas capitate or rarely fimbriate, dry.

Fruit: Nuts dark reddish brown; trigonous; protruding up to ca. ½ its length from or completely enclosed by the persistent tepals; ca. 2 mm long; apex beaked; the surface somewhat striate; glossy.

Ploidy: 2n = 22; 40

Habitat: Wet forests; open lava fields; and along roadsides.

Elevation Range: 600–1,770 m.

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Potentially naturalizing
O'ahu Potentially naturalizing
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Water/Ocean
Birds
Other Animals

Vegetative Reproduction

Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 49: 277 (1913)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1063 (H [as Polygonum capitatum]); Ronse Decraene & Akeroyd 1988:367/Herbst & Wagner 1999:29 (Syn. Polygonum capitatum = Persicaria capitata); Oppenheimer & Bartlett 2002:11 (EM); Staples & Herbst 2005:464 (DESCR [as Polygonum capitatum]); Frohlich & Lau 2010:15 (O); Faccenda, Arthur, et al. 2025:203 (K)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Persicaria capitata Captain Cook OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/18/2007
2 Persicaria capitata Hawai????i, Hilo, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/17/2007
3 Persicaria capitata Kapalua, Maui, Hawai'i, USA OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 7/19/2007
4 Persicaria capitata Maui County, HI, USA OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/16/2007
5 Persicaria capitata 2748 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/17/2007
6 Persicaria capitata East Maui, Makawao District, Kaonoulu, along Waipoli Rd OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Maui HAPI 3/17/2007
7 Persicaria capitata South Hilo District, Waiakea. Buffer zone collections along Stainback Highway OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/16/2007
8 Persicaria capitata Volcano, Hawaii. HUMAN_OBSERVATION -868728425 Hawaii HAPI 1/19/2012
9 Persicaria capitata ahupuaa of Halepuaa in the Puna District OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/17/2007
10 Persicaria capitata Captain Cook OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/18/2007
11 Persicaria capitata Hawai????i, Hilo, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/17/2007
12 Persicaria capitata Kapalua, Maui, Hawai'i, USA OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 7/19/2007
13 Persicaria capitata Maui County, HI, USA OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/16/2007
14 Persicaria capitata 2748 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/17/2007
15 Persicaria capitata East Maui, Makawao District, Kaonoulu, along Waipoli Rd OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Maui HAPI 3/17/2007
16 Persicaria capitata South Hilo District, Waiakea. Buffer zone collections along Stainback Highway OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/16/2007
17 Persicaria capitata Volcano, Hawaii. HUMAN_OBSERVATION -868728425 Hawaii HAPI 1/19/2012
18 Persicaria capitata ahupuaa of Halepuaa in the Puna District OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/17/2007
19 Persicaria capitata Captain Cook OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/18/2007
20 Persicaria capitata Hawai????i, Hilo, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/17/2007
21 Persicaria capitata Kapalua, Maui, Hawai'i, USA OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 7/19/2007
22 Persicaria capitata Maui County, HI, USA OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/16/2007
23 Persicaria capitata 2748 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/17/2007
24 Persicaria capitata East Maui, Makawao District, Kaonoulu, along Waipoli Rd OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Maui HAPI 3/17/2007
25 Persicaria capitata South Hilo District, Waiakea. Buffer zone collections along Stainback Highway OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/16/2007
26 Persicaria capitata Volcano, Hawaii. HUMAN_OBSERVATION -868728425 Hawaii HAPI 1/19/2012
27 Persicaria capitata ahupuaa of Halepuaa in the Puna District OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/17/2007
28 Persicaria capitata Captain Cook OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/18/2007
29 Persicaria capitata Hawai????i, Hilo, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/17/2007
30 Persicaria capitata Kapalua, Maui, Hawai'i, USA OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 7/19/2007
31 Persicaria capitata Maui County, HI, USA OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/16/2007
32 Persicaria capitata 2748 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/17/2007
33 Persicaria capitata East Maui, Makawao District, Kaonoulu, along Waipoli Rd OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Maui HAPI 3/17/2007
34 Persicaria capitata South Hilo District, Waiakea. Buffer zone collections along Stainback Highway OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/16/2007
35 Persicaria capitata Volcano, Hawaii. HUMAN_OBSERVATION -868728425 Hawaii HAPI 1/19/2012
36 Persicaria capitata ahupuaa of Halepuaa in the Puna District OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/17/2007
37 Persicaria capitata Captain Cook OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/18/2007
38 Persicaria capitata Hawai????i, Hilo, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/17/2007
39 Persicaria capitata Kapalua, Maui, Hawai'i, USA OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 7/19/2007
40 Persicaria capitata Maui County, HI, USA OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/16/2007
41 Persicaria capitata 2748 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/17/2007
42 Persicaria capitata East Maui, Makawao District, Kaonoulu, along Waipoli Rd OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Maui HAPI 3/17/2007
43 Persicaria capitata South Hilo District, Waiakea. Buffer zone collections along Stainback Highway OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/16/2007
44 Persicaria capitata Volcano, Hawaii. HUMAN_OBSERVATION -868728425 Hawaii HAPI 1/19/2012
45 Persicaria capitata ahupuaa of Halepuaa in the Puna District OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/17/2007
46 Persicaria capitata Captain Cook OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/18/2007
47 Persicaria capitata Hawai????i, Hilo, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/17/2007
48 Persicaria capitata Kapalua, Maui, Hawai'i, USA OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 7/19/2007
49 Persicaria capitata Maui County, HI, USA OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/16/2007
50 Persicaria capitata 2748 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/17/2007
51 Persicaria capitata East Maui, Makawao District, Kaonoulu, along Waipoli Rd OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Maui HAPI 3/17/2007
52 Persicaria capitata South Hilo District, Waiakea. Buffer zone collections along Stainback Highway OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/16/2007
53 Persicaria capitata Volcano, Hawaii. HUMAN_OBSERVATION -868728425 Hawaii HAPI 1/19/2012
54 Persicaria capitata ahupuaa of Halepuaa in the Puna District OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/17/2007
55 Persicaria capitata Captain Cook OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/18/2007
56 Persicaria capitata Hawai????i, Hilo, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/17/2007
57 Persicaria capitata Kapalua, Maui, Hawai'i, USA OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 7/19/2007
58 Persicaria capitata Maui County, HI, USA OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/16/2007
59 Persicaria capitata 2748 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/17/2007
60 Persicaria capitata East Maui, Makawao District, Kaonoulu, along Waipoli Rd OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Maui HAPI 3/17/2007
61 Persicaria capitata South Hilo District, Waiakea. Buffer zone collections along Stainback Highway OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/16/2007
62 Persicaria capitata Volcano, Hawaii. HUMAN_OBSERVATION -868728425 Hawaii HAPI 1/19/2012
63 Persicaria capitata ahupuaa of Halepuaa in the Puna District OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/17/2007
64 Persicaria capitata Captain Cook OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/18/2007
65 Persicaria capitata Hawai????i, Hilo, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/17/2007
66 Persicaria capitata Kapalua, Maui, Hawai'i, USA OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 7/19/2007
67 Persicaria capitata Maui County, HI, USA OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/16/2007
68 Persicaria capitata 2748 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/17/2007
69 Persicaria capitata East Maui, Makawao District, Kaonoulu, along Waipoli Rd OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Maui HAPI 3/17/2007
70 Persicaria capitata South Hilo District, Waiakea. Buffer zone collections along Stainback Highway OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/16/2007
71 Persicaria capitata Volcano, Hawaii. HUMAN_OBSERVATION -868728425 Hawaii HAPI 1/19/2012
72 Persicaria capitata ahupuaa of Halepuaa in the Puna District OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/17/2007
73 Persicaria capitata Captain Cook OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/18/2007
74 Persicaria capitata Hawai????i, Hilo, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/17/2007
75 Persicaria capitata Kapalua, Maui, Hawai'i, USA OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 7/19/2007
76 Persicaria capitata Maui County, HI, USA OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/16/2007
77 Persicaria capitata 2748 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/17/2007
78 Persicaria capitata East Maui, Makawao District, Kaonoulu, along Waipoli Rd OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Maui HAPI 3/17/2007
79 Persicaria capitata South Hilo District, Waiakea. Buffer zone collections along Stainback Highway OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/16/2007
80 Persicaria capitata Volcano, Hawaii. HUMAN_OBSERVATION -868728425 Hawaii HAPI 1/19/2012
81 Persicaria capitata ahupuaa of Halepuaa in the Puna District OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/17/2007
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