SCARLET SMARTWEED
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SCARLET SMARTWEED

Persicaria coccinea
BUCKWHEAT FAMILY (Polygonaceae)

Identification

  • Flowering June to September
  • Uncommon in very wet floodplain sites
  • Showy, pink flower clusters
  • Larger than other smartweeds
  • SCARLET SMARTWEED
  • SCARLET SMARTWEED
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This native perennial grows up to 3 1/2 feet tall. It grows in colonies near water and tolerates intermittent flooding. Large alternate lance-shaped leaves with smooth margins are up to 8 inches long (C). Thin sheaths (ocrea) which wrap around the stem at each leaf base are smooth and have no marginal bristles. This showy smartweed has one or two elongated, erect clusters of pink flowers at the branch tips (A,C).

This plant is best differentiated from other smartweeds by its larger size, larger leaves and showier more colorful flowers.

Grows in colonies near water, flowering from June through September. Uncommon on the floodplain at Fontenelle Forest. Look for it along the edges of the Great Marsh. No records from Neale Woods.

Also known as Water Smartweed and Swamp Smartweed.

 

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