Fallopia 1183468 223611886 2008-07-04T21:47:46Z Lightbot 7178666 Units/dates/other :Fallopia'' as described by [[João de Loureiro|de Loureiro]] is a synonym of ''[[Grewia]]. "Fallopia" is also the name of a character on the TV show [[Saul of the Mole Men]].'' {{Taxobox | name = ''Fallopia'' | image = Illustration Fallopia dumetorum0.jpg | image_width = 240px | image_caption = ''Fallopia dumetorum'' - from Thomé, ''Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz'', 1885 | regnum = [[Plant]]ae | divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]] | classis = [[Dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]] | ordo = [[Caryophyllales]] | familia = [[Polygonaceae]] | genus = '''''Fallopia''''' | genus_authority = [[Michel Adanson|Adans.]] | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = See text }} '''''Fallopia''''' is a genus of about 12–15 species of [[flowering plant]]s in the family [[Polygonaceae]], often included in a wider treatment of the related genus ''[[Polygonum]]'' in the past. The genus is native to temperate and subtropical regions of the [[Northern Hemisphere]]. The genus includes [[herbaceous]] [[perennial plant]]s, herbaceous [[vine]]s, and [[wood]]y vines. Several species are serious [[invasive species|invasive weeds]], notably Japanese knotweed in Europe and North America ([[Fallopia#Invasive species|see below]]). The genus is named after Gabriello Fallopio, or [[Fallopius]], who was the superintendent of the [[botanical garden]] at [[Padua]]. He was also an acclaimed anatomist, being considered a founder of modern [[anatomy]] along with [[Vesalius]] and [[Bartolomeo Eustachi|Eustachius]]. ''Fallopia'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including ''[[Coleophora|Coleophora therinella]]'' (recorded on ''F. convolvulus''). ==Species== *''[[Fallopia aubertii]]'' = ''Fallopia baldschuanica'' *''[[Fallopia baldschuanica]]'' Russian vine; mile-a-minute vine; China fleece vine; fleece flower; silver lace vine ([[synonymy|syn.]] ''Polygonum baldschuanicum'', ''Polygonum aubertii''). Eastern [[Asia]]. *''[[Fallopia cilinodis]]'' fringed black bindweed (syn. ''Polygonum cilinode, Bilderdykia cilinodis''). [[North America]]. *''[[Wild Buckwheat|Fallopia convolvulus]]'' black bindweed; bear-bind; bind-corn; climbing buckwheat; corn-bind; devil's tether; ivy bindweed; wild buckwheat (syn. ''Polygonum convolvulus, Bilderdykia convolvulus''). [[Europe]], Asia, northern [[Africa]]. :''F. convolvulus'' var. ''subalatum'' *''[[Fallopia cynanchoides]]'' (syn. ''Polygonum cynanchoides''). Western [[China]]. *''[[Fallopia dentatoalata]]'' (syn. ''Polygonum dentatoalatum''). Eastern Asia. *''[[Fallopia denticulata]]'' (syn. ''Polygonum denticulatum''). Southern China. *''[[Fallopia dumetorum]]'' copse bindweed (syn. ''Polygonum dumetorum, Bilderdykia dumetorum''). Europe, Asia, northern Africa. *''[[Fallopia forbesii]]'' (syn. ''Polygonum forbesii''). Northern China, [[Korea]]. *''[[Fallopia japonica]]'' Japanese knotweed (syn. ''Polygonum cuspidatum'', ''Polygonum japonicum'', ''Polygonum reynoutria'', ''Reynoutria japonica''). Eastern Asia. :''F.japonica'' var. ''compacta'' ::''F.japonica'' var. ''compacta'' f. ''rosea'' Hort. *''[[Fallopia multiflora]]'' (syn. ''Polygonum multiflorum''). Eastern Asia. :''F. multiflora'' var. ''hypoleuca'' *''[[Fallopia pterocarpa]]'' (syn. ''Polygonum pterocarpum''). Southern Asia. *''[[Fallopia sachalinensis]]'' giant knotweed (syn. ''Polygonum sachalinense'', ''Reynoutria sachalinensis''). Eastern [[Siberia]]. *''[[Fallopia scandens]]''. North America. ==Hybrids== <!-- NB for editors: Please keep hybrid × signs outside inverted commas, otherwise they will appear italicised on certain browsers --> Crosses between Japanese knotweed and giant knotweed have occurred where the two species grow in close proximity. The hybrid, ''Fallopia'' × ''bohemica'' (syn. ''Polygonum'' × ''bohemicum'') is known as Bohemian knotweed. [[Fallopia × conollyana|''Fallopia'' × ''conollyana'']] (''F. baldschuanica'' × ''F. japonica'') is called railway-yard knotweed. ==Invasive species== [[Image:Riesenknoeterich.jpg|left|thumb|Several invasive species of knotweed form large thickets like this]] Many knotweed species, particularly [[Japanese knotweed]], [[giant knotweed]] and [[Himalayan knotweed]] are considered noxious, [[Invasive species|invasive]] pests. Like many such weeds, Japanese knotweed was introduced from [[Japan]] first into the [[England|U.K.]], then into [[North America]] in the 19th century as an [[ornamental plant]]. Some knotweeds grow extremely quickly during the spring; giant knotweed can reach 4.5 m by summer, Japanese knotweed 3 m, and "dwarf" Himalayan knotweed 1.5–2 m. In Japan, Japanese knotweed is known as ''itadori'', or "strong plant". Some species can spread rapidly from an extensive network of [[rhizome]]s (roots that can sprout) spreading from 7–20 m from the parent plant and at least 2 m deep. Root and stem fragments as small as 1 cm can form new plant colonies. Floods and high water events wash whole or partial plants into rivers and creeks, dispersing pieces of knotweed throughout the flooded area and banks, which give rise to new plants. As with other invasive species of plants, freshly disturbed [[soil]] allows the rapidly growing young knotweed plants to outgrow other plants and take over the area, suppressing other species. Cutting, mowing, digging and some [[herbicide]] treatments, especially in early to mid growing season, fail to curb knotweed growth and in fact often stimulate the production of shoots from latent buds dispersed on the root crown or rhizomes. ==Medicinal properties== Recently, Japanese knotweed (''Fallopia japonica'', syn. ''Polygonum japonicum'', ''Polygonum cuspidatum'', ''Reynoutria japonica'') and others have been used to exploit their high concentrations of trans-resveratrol in the plants' stalks. Previously associated with and identified mainly in the skins of red grapes, [[resveratrol]] is currently under study in a number of research projects investigating its reputedly powerful antiaging properties. Japanese knotweed is being used to treat cancer. ==External links== {{commons|Fallopia japonica}} * [http://www.invasivespecies.gov/profiles/japktwd.shtml Knotweed profile from invasivespecies.gov] * [http://www.cabi-bioscience.org/html/japanese_knotweed_alliance.htm Japanese Knotweed Alliance (UK)] * [http://www.econetwork.net/~wildmansteve/Plants.Folder/Knotweed.html Recipes from "Wildman" Steve Brill] * [http://landscaping.about.com/cs/weedsdiseases/a/knotweed.htm Strategies for the Eradication of Japanese Knotweed]. * [http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/plants/weeds/aqua015.html Japanese Knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum) - A Noxious Weed in Washington] * [http://www.KnottyBits.com/knotweed Knotweed page on KnottyBits.com] * [http://www.projects.ex.ac.uk/knotweed/ Cornwall Knotweed Forum] * [http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0604/japanese_knotweed.asp Control advice from the [[Royal Horticultural Society]] ] * [http://www.ecocontrol.co.uk/eradicationservices.aspx Adive on the Eradication of Japanese Knotweed] ==References== * [http://www.rhs.org.uk/databases/ Online database of the Royal Horticultural Society] [[Category:Polygonaceae]] [[da:Sølvregn-slægten]] [[de:Flügelknöteriche]] [[fr:Fallopia]] [[lt:Pelėvirkštis]] [[nl:Kielduizendknoop]] [[pt:Fallopia]]