Pale Smartweed

(Polygonum lapathifolium L.)

Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family)

 

▲▼ young plants

▲ foliage showing purple markings (present on many, but not all plants)

▲ ochrea

▲▼ young plants with flowers

▲mature plant with flowers

▲ inflorescences

Pale  Smartweed: (pp. 488-489, Weeds of the Great Plains; not in Weeds of the Northeast)

*    similar to ladysthumb, but stipules around stem have smooth edges

*    inflorescences tend to nod at top of plant

*    has smooth margined ochrea with no hairs on it

*    more common in wetter soils

*    summer annual