halberd-leaved tearthumb
Persicaria arifolia
The common name 'tearthumb' is a literal warning: its stems are lined with sharp, backward-pointing barbs that act like biological velcro, slicing skin if pulled the wrong way.
- Scientific name
- Persicaria arifolia
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Caryophyllales › Polygonaceae › Persicaria
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- wetland
- Habitat
- Wet meadows, freshwater marshes, forested swamps, and riparian floodplains.
- Diet
- Autotrophic (photosynthetic), absorbing water and nutrients from saturated, acidic-to-neutral soils.
- Range
- Eastern North America, Northeast United States, Great Lakes Region, Southeast Canada
- Size
- Scrambling stems growing up to 1.5 to 2 meters (5 to 6.5 feet) in length.
- Lifespan
- 1 year (annual)
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Wetland destruction, hydrological alterations, and competition from aggressive invasive species like reed canary grass.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless but physically defensive. The recurved prickles along the stems can easily tear skin or snag clothing. When walking through wet meadows, wear long pants and sturdy boots. If scratched, wash the area with soap and water to prevent mild irritation.
Persicaria arifolia is a flowering plant species in the family Polygonaceae.
Photo: Douglas Goldman, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
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