2201.030 Persicaria (L.) Mill. - Knotweeds

Ronse Decraene, L.-P. & Akeroyd, J.R. (1988) Generic limits in Polygonum and related genera (Polygonaceae) on the basis of floral characters Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 98 321-371

Description of the genus

Annual or perennial herbs, usually (in ours) erect. Ochreae present. Leaves large compared to Polygonum, usually more than 5 cm. Each inflorescence with usually more than 6 flowers, some or all inflorescences terminal, bracts similar to the leaves. Perianth segments mostly 5, petaloid, not enlarging in fruit. Stamens 8 (or 4-7 by reduction). Styles 2-3; nut biconvex or 3-angled.

Worldwide: c. 150 species, ± cosmopolitan

Zambia: 14 taxa.

Insects associated with this genus:
Comostilopsis stillata (Pink-laced Emerald) Food plant
Rhodometra sacraria (Vestal) Food plant
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Links to taxa:     View: living plant images - herbarium specimen images - all images for this genus

SpeciesFZ divisionsContent
decipiens (R. Br.) K.L. WilsonB,N,W,C,E,SDescription, Image
glandulo-pilosa (De Wild.) SojákW
glomerata (Dammer) S. Ortiz & PaivaN,W
hystricula (J. Schust.) SojákN
lapathifolia (L.) GrayC,E,SDescription
limbata (Meisn.) H. HaraB,N,W,C,E,SDescription, Image
madagascariensis (Meisn.) S. Ortiz & PaivaB,N,W,C,E,SDescription, Image
meisneriana (Cham. & Schltdl.) M. Gómez var. beyrichiana (Cham. & Schltdl.) C.C. FreemanB,N,CImage
nepalensis (Meisn.) H. GrossN,EDescription, Image
nogueirae S. Ortiz & PaivaW
senegalensis (Meisn.) SojákB,N,W,C,SDescription, Image
senegalensis f. albotomentosa (R.A. Graham) K.L. WilsonB,N,W,C,SDescription, Image
setosula (A. Rich.) K.L. WilsonN,W,S
strigosa (R. Br.) H. GrossB,N,W,C,SDescription, Image

Other sources of information about Persicaria:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Persicaria
Flora of Burundi: Persicaria
Flora of Caprivi: Persicaria
Flora of Malawi: Persicaria
Flora of Mozambique: Persicaria
Flora of Zimbabwe: Persicaria
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Persicaria

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Persicaria
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Persicaria
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Persicaria
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Persicaria
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Persicaria
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Persicaria
JSTOR Plant Science: Persicaria
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Persicaria
Plants of the World Online: Persicaria
Tropicos: Persicaria
Wikipedia: Persicaria

Copyright: Mike Bingham, Annette Willemen, Nicholas Wightman, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Mark Hyde, 2011-25

Bingham, M.G., Willemen, A., Wightman, N., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. and Hyde, M.A. (2025). Flora of Zambia: Genus page: Persicaria.
https://www.zambiaflora.com/speciesdata/genus.php?genus_id=516, retrieved 2 April 2025

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