Persicaria virginiana
(L.) Gaertn.
Jumpseed
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Summary
Source: WikipediaPersicaria virginiana, also called jumpseed, Virginia knotweed or woodland knotweed is a North American species of smartweed within the buckwheat family. It is unusual as a shade-tolerant member of a mostly sun-loving genus. Jumpseed is a perennial, named for its seeds which can "jump" several feet when a ripe seedpod is disturbed. Persicaria virginiana blooms in midsummer to late summer/early fall. It has a stalk of small white flowers.
Description
A herb which keeps growing from year to year. It grows 60-120 cm high and spreads 80-150 cm wide. The leaves are oval and pointed. They are 15 cm long. They taper to a fine tip. They are downy. They have dark markings. The flowers are greenish-white. They are very small and in narrow spikes.
Edible Uses
The leaves and seeds are eaten.
Distribution
It suits hardiness zones 5-9. It likes a moist soil.
Where It Grows
Asia, Australia, China, Himalayas, Japan, North America, USA,
Notes
There are about 50 Polygonum species.
Synonyms
References (5)
- Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1013
- Fruct. sem. pl. 2:180. 1790
- Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 238
- Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/ (As Polygonum virginianum)
- Ryan, S., 2008, Dicksonia. Rare Plants Manual. Hyland House. p 108
