low smartweed
Persicaria longiseta
The species name 'longiseta' refers to the long bristles found on the sheaths (ocreae) surrounding the stem joints.
- Scientific name
- Persicaria longiseta
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Caryophyllales › Polygonaceae › Persicaria
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- increasing
- Biome
- urban
- Habitat
- Disturbed areas, gardens, roadsides, and damp disturbed soils.
- Diet
- Photosynthetic (Sunlight, water, carbon dioxide).
- Range
- East Asia, North America, Europe
- Size
- 10 to 60 cm in height
- Lifespan
- 1 year (Annual)
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat management, herbicides, and competition with other aggressive pioneer species.
- Safe to approach?
- Low smartweed is entirely harmless to humans. You can safely observe or touch the plant. It does not possess thorns, stinging hairs, or significant allergens.
Persicaria longiseta is a species of flowering plant in the knotweed family known by the common names Oriental lady's thumb , bristly lady's thumb , Asiatic smartweed , long-bristled smartweed , Asiatic waterpepper , bristled knotweed , bunchy knotweed , and tufted knotweed . It is native to Asia (China, India, Russia, Japan, Malaysia, etc.), and it is present in North America and Europe as an introduced species and often a weed.
Photo: Andrew Garn, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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