Arrow Leaf Tearthumb

Persicaria sagittata is an extremely variable species. Achene and leaf characters have been used by some authors to separate North American and Asian populations, but these characters show weak geographic variation (C. W. Park 1988).

Plants annual, 3-20 dm; roots also often arising from proximal nodes. Stems scandent, ribbed, glabrous; prickles 1-1.5 mm. Leaves: ocrea brownish, cylindric, (3-)5-13 mm, chartaceous, base inflated or not, without prickles, margins oblique, glabrous or ciliate at tip with bristles 0.2-1 mm, surface glabrous; petiole 0.5-4 cm; blade broadly lanceolate to oblong, 2-8.5 × 1-3 cm, base sagittate to cordate, margins entire, ciliate or eciliate, apex obtuse to acute, faces glabrous or densely appressed-pubescent, usually with retrorse prickles along midvein abaxially. Inflorescences capitate or paniclelike, uninterrupted, 5-15 × 4-10 mm; peduncle 10-80 mm, usually glabrous, sometimes with retrorse prickles proximally; ocreolae overlapping, margins eciliate. Pedicels mostly ascending, 1-1.5 mm. Flowers 2-3 per ocreate fascicle; perianth white or greenish white, often tinged pink or red, sometimes entirely pink, glabrous, accrescent, not becoming blue and fleshy in fruit; tepals 5, connate 1/ 1/ 2 their length, broadly elliptic, 3-5 mm, apex obtuse; stamens 8, filaments distinct, free; anthers pink, ovate; styles 3, connate to middle. Achenes included or styles exserted, light or dark brown to black, 3-gonous, 2.5-4 × 1.8-2.5 mm, dull to shiny, smooth to minutely punctate. 2n = 40.

Man., N.B., Nfld. and Labr. (Nfld.), N.S., Ont., P.E.I., Que.; Ala., Ark., Colo., Conn., Del., D.C., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., La., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., Miss., Mo., Nebr., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., N.Dak., Ohio, Okla., Pa., R.I., S.C., S.Dak., Tenn., Tex., Vt., Va., W.Va., Wis.; e Asia.

Flowering Jun-Oct.

Moist shaded sites, meadows, pastures, fens, swamps, shorelines of ponds and streams; 0-1000m.

Polygonum sagittatum Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 363. 1753; P. sagittatum var. gracilentum Fernald; Tracaulon sagittatum (Linnaeus) Small; Truellum sagittatum (Linnaeus) Soják

Persicaria sagittata, common names American tearthumb, arrowleaf tearthumb, or arrowvine, is a plant species widespread in the eastern half of North America as well as in eastern Asia. It has been found in every state and province from Texas to Manitoba to Newfoundland to Florida, plus Colorado and Oregon. It also grows in China, the Russian Far East, Siberia, Korea, Japan, northern India and Mongolia. It grows in moist areas along lake shores, stream banks, etc.

Persicaria sagittata is an annual herb up to 200 cm (80 inches) tall, with prickles along the stem. Leaves are up to 10 cm (4 inches) long, heart-shaped or arrowhead-shaped (unusual for the genus). Flowers are white to pink, borne in spherical to elongated clusters up to 15 mm (0.6 inches) long.