Persicaria hydropiperoides (Michx.) Small

Locations ofPersicaria hydropiperoides (Michx.) Small in Virginia

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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

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