Virginia Knotweed

(Polygonum virginiana)

 

   

 

 

Color Photograph: Copyright Nearctica.com, Inc.

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

 

Virginia Knotweed (Polygonum virginiana L.)

Identification: Flowers small and white, sparsely spaced along an extremely long, apical, flowering stalk. Leaves ovate, tapering to a sharp apex and into a short petiole. Leaves large, alternate, hairy. Junction of stem and leaf swollen with a tubular, papery sheath. Plant 1 to 4 feet in height.

Distribution: Minnesota to Nova Scotia, southward to Florida and Texas.

Habitat: Virginia Knotweed is found in forest and thickets.

Flowering period: July to October.

Similar Species: The elongate flowering stalk and the large, hairy leaves should easily identify this species.

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