Water Smartweed
When we paddle in our local lakes one of the most common flowering plants we see is water smartweed.
- Water smartweed (Persicaria amphibia)/(Polygonum amphibium) is an aquatic perennial rising to the surface from rhizomes or stolons.
- It is part of the knotweed family and may be called water knotweed, amphibious bistwort, or longroot smartweed.
- Most of it is found in a variety of aquatic areas, but some variations also grow on land with wet soils.
- A thick stem grows from rhizomes and stems can creep along the mud, grow in submerged areas, or float on the surface.
- Leaves are green and lance-shaped. some growing long, and may be found floating on the surface.
- There are may variations in growth habit, leaf type, and flowers.
- Flowering terminal pink clusters on short vertical stems bloom in summer.
- Bright pink and showy clusters fill shallow water in summer.
- Brown smooth achenes are produced in summer.
- Some Indigenous groups used parts of the plant for medicinal purposes.
- Water smartweed is native to Canada and can be found all over the world.