Oriental Ladysthumb, Asiatic Smartweed

[Polygonum caespitosum Blume var. longisetum (de Bruyn) A.N. Steward]

Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family)

▲ ▼ colony of plants

▲ flowering stems

▲ ochrea with long hairs/fibers

▲ inflorescence with long fibers/hairs between flowers

Oriental Ladysthumb, Asiatic Smartweed: 

*    summer annual weed that appears to be a miniature Pennsylvania smartweed, but can be distinguished by the very long “hairs” at top of ochrea

*    grows 6-24” tall (taller forms often leaning over other plants—has very thin stems)

*    has bright pink flowers, also with long hairs/spikes sticking out from between flowers

*    leaves are thin, smaller than Pennsylvania smartweed; stems green to reddish-green

*    found in moist soils, full sun to part-shade

*    common along streams in open woods; also a lawn weed in moist, shaded sites