Swamp Smartweed

(Polygonum amphibium L.)

Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family)

▲ young shoots from creeping roots

▲ ochrea and stem with numerous hairs

▲▼  mature stem with inflorescences

▲▼ inflorescences

Swamp Smartweed:  (pp. 482-483, Weeds of the Great Plains; not in Weeds of the Northeast)

*   creeping perennial

*   similar to pennsylvania smartweed, but leaves slightly larger

*    more hairs on stem than Pennsylvania smartweed

*    flower spikes very bright pink (actually attractive)

*    usually seen only in very wet soils