Home | > | List of families | > | Polygonaceae | > | Persicaria | > | decipiens |
Synonyms: |
Persicaria salicifolia (Brouss. ex Willd.) Assenov Persicaria serrulata (Lag.) Webb & Moq. Polygonum decipiens R. Br. Polygonum divaricatum Poir. Polygonum erythropus Dammer Polygonum leuconeuron Peter Polygonum salicifolium Brouss. ex Willd. Polygonum scabrum Poir. Polygonum serrulatum Lag. |
Common names: | Snake-root (English) |
Frequency: | Common |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Slender erect or decumbent perennial herb. Stems hairless, up to 1 m, rooting at the lower nodes. Leaves subsessile, linear-lanceolate, glabrescent. Flowers in multiple, more or less terminal spike-like racemes, white to deep pink. Fruit a very small black nut, smooth and shiny. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | decipiens: deceptive |
Habitat: | in wet and marshy places. Also as a weed of waste land and roadsides in high rainfall areas. |
Altitude range: (metres) | Up to 1800 m |
Flowering time: | Oct - May |
Worldwide distribution: | Almost pan-tropical and -subtropical but apparently naturalized in Madagascar. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | N,W,C,E,S |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Tuesday 17 March 2020 |
Literature: |
Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 229. as Polygonum salicifolium Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 43. Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 95. Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 188. as Polygonum decipiens (Includes a picture). Linley, K. & Baker, B. (1972). Flowers of the Veld Bundu Series Longman Zimbabwe Page 31. As Polygonum salicifolium Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 68. as Persicaria serrulata Nogueira, I., Ortiz, S. & Paiva, J.A.R. (2006). Polygonaceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(3) Pages 9 - 10. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 85. as Persicaria salicifolia Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 93. Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 154. as Polygonum salicifolium Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 222. as Persicaria serrulata |
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