Jepson Herbarium
		University of California, Berkeley

Directory       News       Site Map       Home

Indexes to all accepted names and synonyms: | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |

Annual to shrub [ tree].
Stem: nodes swollen or not.
Leaf: simple, basal or cauline, generally alternate; ocreae present or 0, generally scarious, persistent or not.
Inflorescence: flower clusters in axillary to terminal cyme-, panicle-, raceme-, spike-, umbel- or head-like arrangements, entire inflorescence or main inflorescence branches generally subtended by bracts (" inflorescence bracts"); peduncles present or 0; flower clusters in Eriogoneae-Eriogonoideae subtended by involucre of >= 1 free or ± fused, sometimes awn-tipped bracts (" involucre bracts") or, in Polygonoideae and rarely in Eriogonoideae, not (if bracts completely fused, involucre "tubular"); pedicels in Eriogoneae each often subtended by 2 free, transparent, linear bractlets or in Polygonoideae all subtended by 2+ fused, membranous, wide bractlets.
Flower: generally bisexual, small, 1–200 per node; perianth parts 2–6, generally in 2 whorls, free or basally fused, generally petal-like, often ± concave adaxially, often darker at midvein, often turning ± red or ± brown in age; stamens [1]3 or 6–9 in 2 whorls; ovary superior, 1-chambered, ovule 1, styles 1–3.
Fruit: achenes, included in or exserted from perianth, generally 3-angled, ovoid or elliptic, generally glabrous.
48 genera, ± 1200 species: worldwide, especially n temperate; some cultivated for food (Coccoloba, sea-grape; Fagopyrum, Rheum, Rumex) or ornamental (Antigonon, lovechain; Coccoloba; Muehlenbeckia; Persicaria; Polygonum), a few timbered (Coccoloba; Triplaris). Several (Emex; Fallopia; Persicaria; Polygonum; Rumex) are weeds. [Freeman & Reveal 2005 FNANM 5:216–601] Treatment of genera in Eriogonoideae based on monographic work of James L. Reveal. Involucre number throughout is number (1–many) per ultimate grouping, at tips of ultimate branches; flower number is per flower cluster or involucre, unless otherwise stated. Fagopyrum esculentum Moench not naturalized, considered an historical waif (or garden weed ± presently), therefore not treated. —Scientific Editor: Thomas J. Rosatti.

Key to Polygonaceae

Annual, perennial herb, rhizomed or stoloned.
Stem: prostrate to erect, ribbed or ± so or not, glabrous or hairy, generally with adventitious roots.
Leaf: cauline, alternate, petioled or not; ocrea papery, rarely ± leaf-like, opaque, persistent or disintegrating, glabrous to variously hairy; blade lanceolate or ovate to hastate or sagittate, entire.
Inflorescence: axillary, terminal, generally spike-like; flowers 1–14; peduncle present, pedicels present [or 0].
Flower: bisexual or functionally ± unisexual, base not stalk-like; perianth not or ± enlarging, bell-shaped ( urn-shaped, rotate), glabrous, gland-dotted or not, green-white, white, pink, or red; perianth parts 4–5, fused 1/4–2/3, outer 2 > inner 2 or 3; stamens 5–8, filaments free, cylindric, thread-like, glabrous, outer fused to perianth tube or not, anthers elliptic to ovate, yellow, pink, or red; styles 2–3, erect to reflexed, free or fused, stigmas head-like.
Fruit: included or exserted, brown or dark-brown to black, not winged, discoid, lens-shaped, or 3-angled.
Seed: embryo curved.
± 100 species: ± worldwide. (Latin: peach, pertaining to; from resemblance of leaves of some species to those of peach)
Unabridged etymology: (Latin: persica, peach, aria, pertaining to; from resemblance of leaves of some species to those of peach)

Annual, perennial herb, generally rhizomed.
Stem: ascending to erect, 15–100 cm, glabrous, gland-dotted.
Leaf: ocrea (5)9–18 mm, cylindric, brown, margins truncate, ciliate, bristles 2–11 mm, surface glabrous or strigose, gland-dotted; petiole 0–1 cm; blade 5–10(15) cm, 0.6–2.4 cm wide, lanceolate to lance- ovate or sub-diamond-shaped, glabrous or scabrous on midveins, gland-dotted, adaxial dark blotch 0, base tapered or wedge-shaped, tip acute to acuminate.
Inflorescence: axillary, terminal, generally erect, interrupted, 50–200 mm, 4–8 mm wide; peduncle 30–60 mm, glabrous, gland-dotted; bractlets generally not overlapped; pedicels ascending, 1–4 mm; flowers 2–6.
Flower: perianth 3–3.5 mm, bell-shaped, ± enlarging, gland-dotted, generally ± green to white, lobes 5, margins generally white, veins prominent or not, not anchor-shaped, tips obtuse to rounded; stamens 6–8, included, anthers pink or red; styles 2–3, fused basally.
Fruit: included or exserted, 2–3.2 mm, 1.5–2.2 mm wide, generally 3-angled (lens-shaped), brown-black, shiny, smooth.
2n=44. Shallow water, shores, marshes, floodplain forest; < 1500 m. California;

Previous taxon: Persicaria pensylvanica
Next taxon: Persicaria wallichii

Contact/Feedback

Citation for the whole project: Jepson Flora Project (eds.) [year] Jepson eFlora, http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/IJM.html [accessed on month, day, year]
Citation for an individual treatment: [Author of taxon treatment] [year]. [Taxon name] in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora, [URL for treatment]. Accessed on [month, day, year].

Copyright © 2012 Regents of the University of California
We encourage links to these pages, but the content may not be downloaded for reposting, repackaging, redistributing, or sale in any form, without written permission from The Jepson Herbarium.

Bioregions in which taxon occurs	Red area (if present) is the part of the bioregion lying between the upper and lower elevation limits of the taxon; markers link to CCH specimen records. If the markers are obscured, reload the page [or change window size and reload]. Yellow markers indicate records that may provide evidence for eFlora range revision or may have georeferencing or identification issues.
Chart based on elevation range in Manual and elevations and coordinates of CCH records. Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria. Note: About half of the CCH records include both elevation and coordinates.	Map made in collaboration with Scott Loarie. Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria. View all CCH records   CCH collections by month Duplicates counted once; synonyms included. Species do not include records of infraspecific taxa. Blue line denotes Manual flowering time.