Polygonum phytolaccifolium
Encyclopedia
Polygonum phytolaccifolium is a species of flowering plant in the knotweed family
known by the common name poke knotweed. It is native to the western United States, where it grows in subalpine
and alpine climate
s in mountains, rocky plateaus, and other regions.
It is a sturdy perennial herb producing an erect stem from a fleshy caudex
. It may exceed 1.5 meters in height. The lance-shaped or pointed oval leaves are 10 to 20 centimeters long and borne on petioles
. The leaves have large stipule
s which form reddish ochrea
up to 3 centimeters long. The inflorescence
is a long array of branching cluster of many white or greenish flowers. Each flower is about 4 millimeters wide and has tiny protruding stamen
s tipped with yellow or pink anthers.
Polygonaceae
Polygonaceae is a family of flowering plants known informally as the "knotweed family" or "smartweed family"— "buckwheat family" in the United States. The name is based on the genus Polygonum and was first used by Antoine Laurent de Jussieu in 1789 in his book, Genera Plantarum. The name refers...
known by the common name poke knotweed. It is native to the western United States, where it grows in subalpine
Subalpine
The subalpine zone is the biotic zone immediately below tree line around the world. Species that occur in this zone depend on the location of the zone on the Earth, for example, Snow Gum in Australia, or Subalpine Larch, Mountain Hemlock and Subalpine Fir in western North America.Trees in the...
and alpine climate
Alpine climate
Alpine climate is the average weather for a region above the tree line. This climate is also referred to as mountain climate or highland climate....
s in mountains, rocky plateaus, and other regions.
It is a sturdy perennial herb producing an erect stem from a fleshy caudex
Caudex
A caudex is a form of stem morphology appearing as a thickened, short, perennial stem that is either underground or near ground level . It may be swollen for the purpose of water storage, especially in xerophytes...
. It may exceed 1.5 meters in height. The lance-shaped or pointed oval leaves are 10 to 20 centimeters long and borne on petioles
Petiole (botany)
In botany, the petiole is the stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole are called stipules. Leaves lacking a petiole are called sessile, or clasping when they partly surround the...
. The leaves have large stipule
Stipule
In botany, stipule is a term coined by Linnaeus which refers to outgrowths borne on either side of the base of a leafstalk...
s which form reddish ochrea
Ochrea
Ochrea, commonly spelled ocrea, is a structure formed of stipules fused into a sheath surrounding the stem. It is a diagnostic character in the Polygonaceae.In palms it denotes an extension of the leaf sheath beyond the petiole insertion....
up to 3 centimeters long. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is a long array of branching cluster of many white or greenish flowers. Each flower is about 4 millimeters wide and has tiny protruding stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s tipped with yellow or pink anthers.