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Photographer: Emmet J. Judziewicz
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Family Polygonaceae
Persicaria hydropiper (L.) Spach
marsh-pepper knotweed, water-pepper
Persicaria: peach-like, the medieval name for knotweed
hydropiper: hydro for "water;" piper for "pepper"
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| Status: | Introduced - naturalized |
| Plant: | erect to spreading, annual, 6"-24" tall, mostly smooth, often reddish, peppery tasting forb; stems nodes with short hairs, upper ones swelling with closed flowers; taprooted |
| Flower: | greenish-pink, 4-or 5-parted, petals and petal-like sepals connected at the base; inflorescence thin, usually unbroken clusters arching or nodding near the tip; blooms July-Sept. |
| Fruit: | brown/black, dull, dry seed |
| Leaf: | alternate, narrowly lance-like, mostly less than 1" wide |
| Habitat: | wet; marshes, streambanks |
| (Glossary) |
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