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Persicaria punctata

(Elliott) Small (1903)

This name is accepted

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

water smartweed

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Rhizomatous perennial herbs.

Stems: Stems green or reddish below, ascending or sometimes decumbent toward base and rooting at the nodes, slightly swollen above the nodes, 3–10 dm long, unbranched or many branched, glandular punctate.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Blades lanceolate to broadly lanceolate, 6–15 cm long, 0.5–2 cm wide. Surfaces sparsely strigillose and ± inconspicuously glandular punctate. Margins ciliate. Petioles 0.3–1 cm long. Stipules present as an ocreae, cylindrical, 9–18 mm long, apex truncate, long–ciliate, the bristles 1.5– 6.5 mm long, expanding with the nodes and eventually splitting.

Flowers: Flowers in open, erect or arching, distinctly interrupted racemes, these sometimes arranged in paniculate inflorescences 5–10 cm long. Peduncles glandular punctate, each flower on a glandular punctate. Flowers bisexual (perfect), actinomorphic; pedicels jointed. Tepals (4)5(6), usually petaloid, persistent, greenish white or nearly completely green, 2–2.5 mm long, glandular punctate with yellowish glands. 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 brown or black; trigonous or lenticular; protruding up to ca. ½ its length from or completely enclosed by the persistent tepals; 1.8–3 mm long; the surface glossy.

Ploidy:

Habitat: Streambeds; wet areas; in running or standing water; and in disturbed wet forest.

Elevation Range: 5–1,900 m.

Historical Distribution

Synonyms (44)

Discolenta punctata (Elliott) Raf. (1838)
Mitesia punctata (Elliott) Raf. (1837)
Persicaria acris M.Gómez (1896)
Persicaria hydropiper (Misapplied)
Persicaria punctata var. breviciliata (Meisn.) H.Hara (1966)
Persicaria punctata var. confertiflora (Meisn.) D.Löve & J.-P.Bernard (1959)
Persicaria punctata var. eciliata (Small) Small (1903)
Persicaria punctata var. leptostachya (Meisn.) Small (1903)
Persicaria punctata var. tacubayana Nieuwl. (1913)
Polygonum acre Kunth (1817)
Polygonum acre f. albiflorum Kuntze (1891)
Polygonum acre var. aquatile Meisn. (1855)
Polygonum acre var. brachystachyum Meisn. (1856)
Polygonum acre var. breviciliatum Meisn. (1832)
Polygonum acre var. confertiflorum Meisn. (1856)
Polygonum acre var. leptostachyum Meisn. (1856)
Polygonum acre var. riparium (Mart.) Meisn. (1855)
Polygonum antihaemorrhoidale Mart. (1823)
Polygonum antihaemorrhoidale f. aquatile Mart. (1828)
Polygonum antihaemorrhoidale f. riparium Mart. (1828)
Polygonum antihaemorrhoidale var. aquatile (Mart.) Mart. (1830)
Polygonum antihaemorrhoidale var. riparium (Mart.) Mart. (1830)
Polygonum distachyum Mart. ex Meisn. (1856)
Polygonum eciliatum (Small) W.Stone (1911)
Polygonum epilobioides Wedd. (1849)
Polygonum gracilescens Mart. ex Meisn. (1856)
Polygonum maritimum Vell. (1829)
Polygonum punctatum Elliott (1817)
Polygonum punctatum f. longicollum Fassett (1949)
Polygonum punctatum f. stipitatum Fassett (1946)
Polygonum punctatum var. aquatile (Mart.) Fassett (1946)
Polygonum punctatum var. breviciliatum (Meisn.) Steward (1930)
Polygonum punctatum var. confertiflorum (Meisn.) Fassett (1948)
Polygonum punctatum var. eciliatum Small (1893)
Polygonum punctatum var. ellipticum Fassett (1949)
Polygonum punctatum var. leptostachyum (Meisn.) Small (1892)
Polygonum punctatum var. littorale Fassett (1949)
Polygonum punctatum var. mexicanum Fassett (1949)
Polygonum punctatum var. parviflorum Fassett (1949)
Polygonum punctatum var. parvum Vict. & J.Rousseau (1940)
Polygonum punctatum var. riparium (Mart.) Fassett (1949)
Polygonum punctatum var. tacubayanum (Nieuwl.) Fassett (1949)
Polygonum punctatum var. typicum Fassett (1949)
Polygonum riparium Mart. ex Meisn. (1856)

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

O'ahu Only found in cultivation
Molokai Naturalized
Lana'i Only found in cultivation
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Fl. S.E. U.S.: 379 (1903)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1064 (H [as Polygonum punctatum]); Herbst & Wagner 1999:30/Hinds & Freeman 2005:586 (Syn. Polygonum punctatum = Persicaria punctata); Oppenheimer 2004:16 (EM); Wood 2006:19 (Mo)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Persicaria punctata Morgan Toledo Taro Farm, Waipio Valley, Big Island, Hawaii Growing in the toe zone of the stream on the back of the property. Preserved_Specimen Decumbent to upright herb, long inflorescence, with small white flowers. Crago, L.M. 2005100 Hawaii BISH 2005-03-19
2 Persicaria punctata Wailuku River In wet Metrosideros rain forest; gravel of stream bed. Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.L. 4870 Hawaii BISH 1983-07-27
3 Persicaria punctata Hamakua District: Hakalau Along old road near stream. Preserved_Specimen Shrub to 50 cm. in height. Flowers white, 2 mm. long. Seed black, 2 mm. long. Nagata, K.M. 2927 Hawaii BISH 1984-06-06
4 Persicaria punctata East Maui, Hana District, Kopiliula, near Hana Hwy. Growing in standing water. Preserved_Specimen Ochrae bristles 1.5-2mm long. Oppenheimer, H.L. 50216 Maui BISH 2002-05-04
5 Persicaria punctata Head of Alakahi Gorge, Waipio Valley, Kohala Mountains, above Waimea In wet road Preserved_Specimen Stems ascending, flowers white. Fosberg, F.R. 42134 Hawaii BISH 1961-09-10
6 Persicaria punctata South Kona, Honaunau Forest Reserve near Kealakekua Ranch In Acacia - Metrosideros forest with mixed understory. Preserved_Specimen Frequent herbaceous weed, less than 1 foot tall. Flowers white. Davis, J. 265 Hawaii BISH 1980-03-31
7 Persicaria punctata Kamuela; Puu Kapu Roadside Preserved_Specimen Ewart III, G.R. 261 Hawaii BISH 1932-06-07
8 Persicaria punctata Waimea, Hamakua, Kaala paddock Occ. in boggy hollow places. Preserved_Specimen Flowers white. Hosaka, E.Y. 2084 Hawaii BISH 1938-05-25
9 Persicaria punctata Hamakua Dist., Lalakea, main weir at start of Lower Hamakua Ditch Common emergent herb. Growing in moving water along sides of ditch. Preserved_Specimen White flowers. Herbst, D.R. 9793 Hawaii BISH 1996-08-02
10 Persicaria punctata Hamakua District, Waipio Valley, taro farm ca. 2 miles into the valley Common weedy herb growing in taro paddies. Preserved_Specimen Imada, C. 9922 Hawaii BISH 1999-06-19
11 Persicaria punctata Keauhou Ranch, Kau District, near Kilauea Forest boundary. (TKBB) Growing with Pennisetum clandestinum (kikuyu) on edge of log jam with Metrosideros and Cibotium glaucum. Preserved_Specimen Spreading herb anout 2' tall. Flowers greenish- white tinged with pink. Cuddihy, L.W. 549 Hawaii BISH 1980-08-19
12 Persicaria punctata South Kohala: Kahua Ranch Bog of standing water, over 1 acre in size, in pasture. Much Polygonum & Myriophyllum around edges. Preserved_Specimen Flowers white. Davis, J. 730 Hawaii BISH 1982-04-09
13 Persicaria punctata Honaunau Forest, South Kona, near Kealakekua Ranch Growing on ground with Pennisetum clandestinum, Senecio mikanioides and ferns in open Acacia koa - Metrosideros forest. Preserved_Specimen Small herbaceous plant. Flowers tiny and white. Cuddihy, L.W. 281 Hawaii BISH 1980-02-28
14 Persicaria punctata North Kohala District; Hawi Quadrangle, Parker Ranch. Stock ponds in vicinity of Kehena Reservoir Emergent vegetation growing along shore & standing water. Floating submergent. Growing on pond edge in moist soil. Preserved_Specimen Engilis Jr., A. 9208 Hawaii BISH 1992-06-08
15 Persicaria punctata Ahualoa, coffee farm irrigation pond Pond dominated by Schoenoplectus mucronatus (70% cover), with Eleocharis obtusa, Ludwigia palustris, Cuphea carthagenensis, Cyperus halpan, Juncus effusus, Utricularia gibba. Preserved_Specimen Uyehara, K.J. Hawaii BISH 2005-09-24
16 Persicaria punctata Hamakua District, Kukuihaele quad, Waipio Valley Common thin herb in overgrown abandoned taro lo'i dominated by Commelina and Myriophyllum, along with Psidium guajava, Ludwigia octovalvis, Kyllinga brevifolia. Preserved_Specimen Imada, C. 20016 Hawaii BISH 2001-03-13
17 Persicaria punctata Piihonua; Hilo Forest Reserve, Site 22 OS Open healthy forest. Soil a moderately deep, well drained ash over an unknown substrate. Primary vegetation: Metrosideros polymorpha, Ilex anomala, Gouldia sp., Pelea clusiifolia, Cheirodendron trigynum, Myrsine lessertiana & Clermontia spp. Preserved_Specimen Adee, K.T. Hawaii BISH 1979-06-19
18 Persicaria punctata Hamakua, Kukaiau In pasture under trees in depressed place. Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 1531 Hawaii BISH 1936-08-24
19 Persicaria punctata Keauhou Ranch, Kau District near Kilauea Forest boundary, (TKBB) Growing with Pennisetum clandestinum (kikuyu) on edge of log jam with Metrosideros and Cibotium glaucum. Preserved_Specimen Spreading herb about 2' tall. Flowers greenish-white tinged with pink. Cuddihy, L.W. 549 Hawaii BISH 1980-08-19
20 Persicaria punctata Kalaupapa; Puu Alii Preserved_Specimen rhizomatous perennial herb Wysong, M.L. 400 Molokai BISH 2004-10-26
21 Persicaria punctata East Maui, Hana District, Paakea Stream. Growing along irrigation ditch. Preserved_Specimen Herbs, stems ascending to erect, often red near base; flowers white. Oppenheimer, H.L. 51326 Maui BISH 2013-05-31
22 Persicaria punctata Puna District: Volcano transfer dump Preserved_Specimen Herb with white flowers. Herbst, D.R. 5532 Hawaii BISH 1975-10-23
23 Persicaria punctata Honaunau Forest Reserve, South Jeep Road Roadside weed, not common. Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 1718 Hawaii BISH 1970-07-07
24 Persicaria punctata Kohala Mountains, Awini Ridge. On Waipahi Stream at trail crossing Preserved_Specimen Sprawling herb. Flynn, T.W. 1415 Hawaii BISH 1985-11-21
25 Persicaria punctata Kona? Preserved_Specimen Flowers; calyx green below, sepals white; fruit; achene lustrous. Carlson, N.K. Hawaii BISH 1963-09-30
26 Persicaria punctata Paauhau No. 2 Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 3451 Hawaii BISH
27 Persicaria punctata N. slope of Mauna Kea, Paauhau No. 2 Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 3450 Hawaii BISH
28 Persicaria punctata Honolulu International Airport Preserved_Specimen Three flw shoots of an aquatic plant; lvs green; young shoots pinkish-red; flws greenish. Hoe, W.J. 512 Oahu BISH 1989-11-27
29 Persicaria punctata Paauhau No.2 Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 3449 Hawaii BISH
30 Persicaria punctata Kohala Mountains: Jeep road to head of Honokane Gulch complex, north of Kahua Ranch Preserved_Specimen Wentworth, J.O. 14 Hawaii BISH 1969-10-10
31 Persicaria punctata Honokaa, Macadamia Orchard Preserved_Specimen Lennox, C.G. Hawaii BISH 1943-11-02
32 Persicaria punctata Kohala Mountains. proposed Puu Ohu Reservoir Preserved_Specimen Corn, C. Hawaii BISH 1984-03-27
33 Persicaria punctata Laupahoehoe Forest Reserve Preserved_Specimen Hodges, C. Hawaii BISH 1979-10-25
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