Persicaria maculata
(Rafn.) Love & Love
Lady’s thumb, Knotweed, Red Leg
wikimedia· cc-by-sa
Wikimedia Commons - Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz
wikimedia· cc-by-sa
Wikimedia Commons - Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz
Description
An annual herb. The stems often produce roots at the lower nodes. It grows up to 50 cm tall. The stems are pointing upwards. The leaves are narrowly sword shaped and on short leaf stalks. There are small hairs on the edges of the leaves. The upper leaf surface is green with a black mark near its centre. The flowers are white or pink. They are in spikes at the top of the plant.
Edible Uses
It has been found in analysis of the intestinal contents of the Tollund Man body, found in peat in Denmark in 1950.
Traditional Uses
The stems and leaves are eaten. They can be eaten raw in salads or cooked as a vegetable.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Distribution
It is a temperate plant. It grows in wet places.
Where It Grows
Asia, Australia, Britain, China, Europe, India, Indochina, Italy, Mediterranean, North America, SE Asia, Tasmania, USA, Vietnam,
Cultivation
Plants can be grown by seeds.
Notes
Chemical composition: Tannin = 1%, Fat = 1.9%. Pectins = 5.4%. Sugars = 3.5%. Cellulose = 27.6%. Small percentage of volatile oil containing the camphor-like principle persicariol. There are about 50 Polygonum species.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Nghe bun, Redshank
References (15)
- Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 819
- Duke, J.A., 1992, Handbook of Edible Weeds. CRC Press. p 154
- Elias, T.S. & Dykeman P.A., 1990, Edible Wild Plants. A North American Field guide. Sterling, New York p 110
- Esperanca, M. J., 1988. Surviving in the wild. A glance at the wild plants and their uses. Vol. 2. p 45 (As Polygonum persicaria)
- Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 185 (As Persicaria vulgaris)
Show all 15 references Hide references
- Hyde-Wyatt, B.H. & Morris D.I., 1975, Tasmanian Weed Handbook. Dept of Ag Tasmania. p 53
- Kiple, K.F. & Ornelas, K.C., (eds), 2000, The Cambridge World History of Food. CUP p 1797
- Lamp, C & Collet F., 1989, Field Guide to Weeds in Australia. Inkata Press. p 226
- Lazarides, M. & Hince, B., 1993, Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia, CSIRO. p 195
- Mabey, R., 1973, Food for Free. A Guide to the edible wild plants of Britain, Collins. p 98
- Paoletti, M.G., Dreon, A.L., and Lorenzoni, G.G., 1995, Pistic, Traditional Food from Western Friuli, NE Italy. Economic Botany 49(1) pp 26-30
- Pham-Hoang Ho, 1999, An Illustrated Flora of Vietnam. Nha Xuat Ban Tre. p 753
- Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
- READ,
- Tasmanian Herbarium Vascular Plants list p 45
