Persicaria hydropiperoides (Michx.) Small
Detail
- Family
- Polygonaceae
- Botanical Name
- Persicaria hydropiperoides (Michx.) Small
- Common Name
- Mild Water-pepper, Marsh-pepper Smartweed
- Synonym(s)
- Polygonum hydropiperoides Michx.
- Flora of Virginia Name/Status
- Persicaria hydropiperoides (Michaux) Small
- Comments
- Two vars. are sometimes recognized in our area but are not treated formally here pending further study to determine their taxonomic validity. Var. hydropiperoides is the more robust, pink-flowered, widespread var. in Virginia, while var. opelousana (Riddell ex Small) J.S. Wilson is distinguished primarily by its more wiry habit, tendency to have narrower leaves, perianth shape, achene exsertion, plate-glands on vegetative parts (rarely on perianth), greenish-white flowers, and greater restriction to the Coastal Plain. Extensive herbarium work will be required to assess and map the two taxa.
- Habitat
- Alluvial swamps, seepage swamps, tidal swamps, maritime swamps, depression swamps and ponds, floodplain ponds and pools, interdune ponds, wind-tidal oligohaline marshes, impoundment marshes, and ditches; also on rocky, sandy, gravelly, or muddy bars and river shores. Common in the Coastal Plain; infrequent to locally common in most of the Piedmont and the c. and n. mountains; mostly absent from the sw. Piedmont and sw. mountains. Based on limited field observations and herbarium study, var. hydropiperoides is widespread throughout the state range, while var. opelousanum is most frequent in the Coastal Plain and inner Piedmont.
- Native Status
- Native
To save this map, right-click (control-click for Mac users) on the map and choose "Save Image As...".