Polygonum douglasii

Polygonum douglasii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Core eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Polygonaceae
Genus: Polygonum
Species: P. douglasii
Binomial name
Polygonum douglasii
Greene 1885
Synonyms[1]

Polygonum douglasii is a species of flowering plant in the knotweed family known by the common name Douglas's knotweed. It is native to much of northern and western North America, where it can be found in many types of habitat, including disturbed areas. It has been found in Canada from British Columbia north to Yukon and east as far as Québec, and in the United States as far south as California, New Mexico, Iowa, and New York.[3]

Polygonum douglasii is known as a species complex, as there are many subspecies that may be better treated as species in their own right.[4][5][2]

Polygonum douglasii is variable in morphology and the subspecies are often difficult to distinguish. In general, plants in this complex are annual herbs growing erect to maximum heights anywhere between 3 and 80 centimeters (1.2-32 inches) with thin, angular stems. High-elevation plants are smaller and sometimes trailing on the surface of the ground. The leaves are linear or widely lance-shaped, sometimes falling away to leave the plant mostly naked in flowering, or reduced to tiny scales at the stem tips. The flowers are a few millimeters long, pink to white, sometimes remaining closed or opening together in a cluster.[6][1]

References

  1. 1 2 The Plant List, Polygonum douglasii Greene
  2. 1 2 Greene, Edward Lee. 1885. Bulletin of the California Academy of Sciences 1(3): 125–126
  3. ↑ Biota of North America Program 2014 state-level distribution map
  4. ↑ Flora of North America
  5. ↑ Costea, M. & F. J. Tardif. (2005). Taxonomy of the Polygonum douglasii (Polygonaceae) complex with a new species from Oregon. Brittonia 57:1 1-27.
  6. ↑ Flora of North America, Polygonum douglasii Greene, 1885. Douglas's knotweed, renouée de Douglas
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