Polygonum 915247 225735333 2008-07-15T03:51:48Z Kingdon 668610 I don't really know if the genus as such has common names, so talk about common names of some species, per talk page suggestion {{Taxobox | name = ''Polygonum'' | image = Persicaria capitata1.jpg | image_width = 240px | image_caption = ''Polygonum maritimum'', sea knotgrass | regnum = [[Plant]]ae | divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]] | classis = [[Dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]] | ordo = [[Caryophyllales]] | familia = [[Polygonaceae]] | genus = '''''Polygonum''''' | genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]] | subdivision_ranks = [[Species]] | subdivision = Between 150-300 species; see text }} '''''Polygonum''''' is a [[genus]] in the [[buckwheat]] family [[Polygonaceae]]. The name may be derived from the [[Greek language|Greek]] ''poly'', "many" and ''gonu'', "knee" in reference to the swollen jointed stem [[Node (botany)|nodes]].<ref name="fna">{{cite web | url = http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=126398 | title = Polygonum | work = Flora of North America}}</ref> There is another theory which states that the second part of the name is derived from Greek ''gonos'', "children"{{Fact|date=March 2008}} or ''gone'', "seed"<ref name="fna"/>. Common names of polygonum species include '''knotweed''', '''knotgrass''', '''bistort''', '''tear-thumb''', '''mile-a-minute''', and several others. In the [[Middle English]] [[glossary]] of [[herbs]] "[[Alphita]]" (ca. [[1400]]-[[1425]]), it was known as '''ars-smerte'''<ref>Middle English Dictionary.</ref>. There have been various opinions about how broadly the genus should be defined. [[Buckwheat]] for example has sometimes been included in the genus. The genus primarily grows in northern [[temperate]] regions. They vary widely from prostrate [[herbaceous]] [[annual plant]]s under 5 cm high, others erect herbaceous [[perennial plant]]s growing to 3–4 m tall, and yet others perennial [[wood]]y [[vine]]s growing to 20–30 m high in [[tree]]s; several are also aquatic, growing as floating plants in [[pond]]s. The smooth-edged [[Leaf|leaves]] vary greatly in shape between species, and can be narrow lanceolate, oval, broad triangular, heart shaped or arrowhead shaped; they range from 1–30 cm long. The stems are often reddish or red-speckled. The [[flower]]s are small, pink, white, or greenish, forming in summer in dense clusters from the leaf joints or stem apices. ''Polygonum'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species - see [[list of Lepidoptera that feed on Polygonum]], a number are considered weedy, especially in moisture retentive soils in the USA. == Distribution and Uses == At least one species has been eaten during times of famine.<ref>{{cite journal | url = http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=2275233 | journal = J Ethnobiol Ethnomed | date = 2008 | volume = 4 | issue = 4 | doi = 10.1186/1746-4269-4-4 | id = PMCID: PMC2275233 | title = Archival data on wild food plants used in Poland in 1948 | author = Łukasz Łuczaj | pages = 4 | pmid = 18218132}}</ref> ==Species== Between 65<ref name="fna">{{cite web | url = http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=126398 | title = Polygonum | work = Flora of North America}}</ref>–300 species are recognised depending on the circumscription of the genus; some [[botanist]]s divide the genus up into several smaller genera, including ''[[Fagopyrum]]'', ''[[Fallopia]]'' and ''[[Persicaria]]''. The genus ''[[Polygonella]]'' has a number of morphological similarities with ''Polygonum'' and some authors have included ''Polygonella'' in ''Polygonum''.<ref name="fna"/> Selected species include: *''[[Polygonum achoreum]]'' *''[[Polygonum acuminata]]'' *''[[Polygonum acuminatum]]'' - [[tapertip smartweed]] *''[[Polygonum arenarium]]'' *''[[Polygonum arenastrum]]'' – [[small-leaved knotgrass]] *''[[Polygonum argyrocoleon]]'' *''[[Polygonum arifolium]]'' *''[[Polygonum aviculare]]'' – [[common knotgrass]] *''[[Polygonum bellardii]]'' *''[[Polygonum bidwelliae]]'' *''[[Polygonum bistortoides]]'' *''[[Polygonum bolanderi]]'' *''[[Polygonum boreale]]'' *''[[Polygonum brasiliensis]]'' *''[[Polygonum bungeanum]]'' - [[Bunge's smartweed]] *''[[Polygonum buxiforme]]'' *''[[Polygonum caespitosum]]'' *''[[Polygonum californicum]]'' – [[California knotweed]] *''[[Polygonum careyi]]'' - [[Carey's smartweed]] *''[[Polygonum cascadense]]'' *''[[Polygonum caurianum]]'' *''[[Polygonum chinense]]'' *''[[Polygonum coccineum]]'' *''[[Polygonum cognatum]]'' – [[Indian knotgrass]] *''[[Polygonum davisiae]]'' *''[[Polygonum densiflorum]]'' *''[[Polygonum dibotrys]]'' *''[[Polygonum douglasii]]'' – [[Douglas' knotweed]] *''[[Polygonum erectum]]'' *''[[Polygonum flaccidum]]'' – ([[Meissn.]]) *''[[Polygonum foliosum]]'' *''[[Polygonum forrestii]]'' *''[[Polygonum fowleri]]'' *''[[Polygonum franktonii]]'' *''[[Polygonum glaucum]]'' *''[[Polygonum griffithii]]'' *''[[Polygonum herniarioides]]'' *''[[Polygonum heterosepalum]]'' – [[dwarf desert knotweed]] *''[[Polygonum hickmanii]]'' *''[[Polygonum hirsutum]]'' *''[[Polygonum hongkongensis]]'' *''[[Polygonum hudsonianum]]'' *''[[Polygonum hydropiperoides]]'' - [[swamp smartweed]] *''[[Polygonum lacerum]]'' *''[[Polygonum lanigerum]]'' *''[[Polygonum marinense]]'' *''[[Polygonum maritimum]]'' – [[sea knotgrass]] *''[[Polygonum meisneranum]]'' *''[[Polygonum meisnerianum]]'' *''[[Polygonum minimum]]'' – [[broadleaf knotweed]] *''[[Polygonum multiflorum]]'' *''[[Polygonum newberryi]]'' - Newberry knotweed *''[[Polygonum oxyspermum]]'' – [[Ray's knotgrass]] *''[[Polygonum paronychia]]'' *''[[Polygonum paronychioides]]'' *''[[Polygonum parryi]]'' *''[[Polygonum patulum]]'' - [[Bellard's smartweed]] *''[[Polygonum perfoliatum]]'' – [[mile-a-minute weed]] *''[[Polygonum phytolaccifolium]]'' *''[[Polygonum plebeium]]'' *''[[Polygonum polycnemoides]]'' *''[[Polygonum polycnenoides]]'' *''[[Polygonum polygaloides]]'' *''[[Polygonum punctatum]]'' - [[dotted smartweed]] *''[[Polygonum raii]]'' = ''[[Polygonum oxyspermum]]'' *''[[Polygonum ramosissimum]]'' *''[[Polygonum robustius]]'' - [[stout smartweed]] *''[[Polygonum rurivagum]]'' *''[[Polygonum salicifolium]]'' *''[[Polygonum scoparium]]'' *''[[Polygonum segetum]]'' - [[field smartweed]] *''[[Polygonum setaceum]]'' - [[bog smartweed]] *''[[Polygonum shastense]]'' *''[[Polygonum striatulum]]'' *''[[Polygonum tenue]]'' ===Reclassified as ''Fagopyrum''=== *''Polygonum fagopyrum'' (''[[Fagopyrum esculentum]]'') – [[buckwheat]] ===Reclassified as ''Fallopia''=== *''Polygonum aubertii'' = ''Polygonum baldschuanicum'' *''Polygonum baldschuanicum'' (''[[Fallopia baldschuanica]]'') (''Fallopia aubertii'', ''Bilderdykia aubertii'', ''Bilderdykia balschuanicum'') – [[Russian vine]] *''Polygonum cilinode'' (''[[Fallopia cilinodis]]'', ''Bilderdykia cilinodis'') – [[fringed black bindweed]] *''Polygonum convolvulus'' (''[[Fallopia convolvulus]]'') – [[Black Bindweed]], wild buckwheat *''Polygonum cuspidatum'' = ''Polygonum japonicum'' - [[Japanese knotweed]] *''Polygonum dumetorum'' (''Fallopia dumetorum'') – [[copse bindweed]] *''Polygonum japonicum'' (''[[Fallopia japonica]]'', ''Reynoutria japonica'') – [[Japanese knotweed]] *''Polygonum multiflorum'' (''[[Fallopia multiflora]]'') *''Polygonum sachalinense'' (''[[Fallopia sachalinensis]]'', ''Reynoutria sachalinensis'') – [[giant knotweed]] *''Polygonum scandens'' (''[[Fallopia scandens]]'') ===Reclassified as ''[[Persicaria]]''=== [[Image:PolygonumPersicara-flower-sm.jpg|thumb|Flowerhead of ''Persicaria maculata'' (syn. ''Polygonum persicara'')]] *''Polygonum affine'' (''[[Persicaria affinis]]'') *''Polygonum alatum'' (''[[Persicaria alata]]'') *''Polygonum alpinum'' – [[alpine knotweed]] (''[[Persicaria alpina]]'') *''Polygonum amphibium'' – [[amphibious bistort]], [[longroot smartweed]], [[water smartweed]], (''[[Persicaria amphibia]]'') *''Polygonum amplexicaule'' (''[[Persicaria amplexicaulis]]'') *''Polygonum bistorta'' – [[bistort]] (''[[Persicaria bistorta]]'') *''Polygonum campanulatum'' – [[lesser knotweed]], [[bellflower smartweed]], (''[[Persicaria campanulata]]'') (''Reynoutria campanulatum'') *''Polygonum capitatum'' - [[pinkhead smartweed]], (''[[Persicaria capitata]]'') *''Polygonum emodi'' (''[[Persicaria emodi]]'') *''Polygonum filiforme'' (''[[Persicaria virginiana]]'') *''Polygonum hydropiper'' – [[water-pepper]] (''[[Persicaria hydropiper]]'') *''Polygonum lapathifolium'' – [[pale persicaria]] or nodding smartweed (''[[Persicaria lapathifolia]]'') *''Polygonum longisetum'' (''[[Persicaria longiseta]]'') *''Polygonum macrophyllum'' (''[[Persicaria macrophylla]]'') *''Polygonum milletii'' (''[[Persicaria milletii]]'') *''Polygonum minus'' – [[small water-pepper]] (''[[Persicaria minor]]'') *''Polygonum mite'' – [[tasteless water-pepper]] (''[[Persicaria mitis]]'', ''Persicaria laxiflora'') *''Polygonum molle'' (''[[Persicaria mollis]]'') *''Polygonum nepalense'' (''[[Persicaria nepalensis]]'') *''Polygonum odoratum'' – [[Vietnamese coriander]] (''[[Persicaria odorata]]'') *''Polygonum orientale'' (''[[Persicaria orientalis]]'') *''Polygonum pensylvanicum'' – Pennsylvania smartweed or pink knotweed or pinkweed (''[[Persicaria pensylvanica]]'') *''Polygonum persicaria'' – [[Redshank (plant)|redshank]] or persicaria or lady's thumb (''[[Persicaria maculosa]]'') *''Polygonum polystachyum'' = ''Polygonum wallichii'' *''Polygonum runciforme'' (''[[Persicaria runcinata]]'') *''Polygonum sagittatum'' – arrowleaf tearthumb, American tear-thumb or scratchgrass (''[[Persicaria sagittata]]'') *''Polygonum tenuicaule'' (''[[Persicaria tenuicaulis]]'') *''Polygonum tinctorium'' (''[[Persicaria tinctoria]]'') *''Polygonum vaccinifolium'' (''[[Persicaria vaccinifolia]]'') *''Polygonum virginianum'' (''[[Persicaria virginiana]]'') *''Polygonum viviparum'' – [[Alpine Bistort|alpine bistort]] (''[[Persicaria vivipara]]'') *''Polygonum wallichii'' – Himalayan knotweed (''[[Persicaria wallichii]]'') *''Polygonum weyrichii'' (''[[Persicaria weyrichii]]'') ==References/External links== {{commons}} *[http://internt.nhm.ac.uk/jdsml/nature-online/nature-navigator/ Website of the [[Natural History Museum]], London] *[http://www.rhs.org.uk/RHSPlantFinder/plantfinder.asp Plant Finder section of the [[Royal Horticultural Society]]'s website] *[http://www.habitas.org.uk/flora/index.html Flora of Northern Ireland] ==References== {{Reflist}} [[Category:Invasive plant species]] [[Category:Polygonaceae]] [[da:Pileurt]] [[de:Vogelknöteriche]] [[es:Polygonum]] [[eo:Poligono]] [[fa:علف هفت‌بند]] [[fr:Renouée]] [[ja:タデ属]] [[ko:싱아]] [[lt:Takažolė]] [[nl:Duizendknoop]] [[pl:Rdest]] [[pt:Polygonum]] [[fi:Tattaret]] [[tr:Madımak (bitki)]] [[uk:Гірчак (рослина)]] [[zh:蓼]]