Persicaria humilis (Meisn.) H. Hara

The species has been reported from Tosh Maidan, Pir Panjal by Blatter fide Stewart, l.c. 211. we have not seen any specimen from the area under question. The occurrence of this species in our area is doubtful.

Erect, annual, sparsely glandular-hairy, simple or diffusely branched from the base, herb,10-15 cm high. Leaves 8-12 x 3-6 mm, sessile or narrowed into a small and ± broad petiole, ovate, acute. Ochrea ovate, small, mouth very oblique, membranous. Inflorescence pedunculate, c. 5 mm across heads, involucral bract absent, peduncle eglandular. Flowers pedicellate, small. Ochreolae very small, larger than flowers, ovate-lanceolate, acute. Tepals 4-5- partite, oblanceolate-obovate, obtuse. Stamens 5-6, filaments long, filiform. Ovary biconvex with two filiform styles and capitate stigmas. Nuts biconvex, black, densely pitted, 1-1.5 mm long.

Herbs annual. Stems decumbent, 5-15 cm tall, slender, branched, sparsely long glandular hairy. Petiole 2-3 mm, winged; leaf blade ovate, 5-12 × 3-6 mm, both surfaces sparsely long glandular hairy, base cuneate, decurrent along petiole forming narrow wing, margin long ciliate and sparsely glandular hairy; ocrea tubular, membranous, oblique, sparsely long glandular hairy, not ciliate. Inflorescence terminal, capitate, small, 3-5 mm in diam.; peduncle long, slender, sparsely long glandular hairy; bracts broadly lanceolate, 2.5-3 mm, glabrous, margin membranous, not ciliate, apex acute, each 1-flowered. Perianth pinkish, 5-parted; tepals elliptic, ca. 1 mm, apex acute. Stamens 5 or 6. Styles 2, connate to below middle; stigmas capitate. Achenes black, opaque, nearly orbicular, biconvex, ca. 1 mm in diam., densely pitted. Fl. Aug-Sep, fr. Sep-Oct.

Himalaya (Kumaun to Sikkim), Khasia.

Distribution: Himalayas, Kumaon-Sikkim, Kashmir (?).

Yunnan [Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sikkim].

2700-3500 m

Grassy slopes, shaded places in valleys; 2400-2800 m.

Polygonum humile Meisn. in Wall., Pl. As. Rar. 3: 59. 1832; in DC., Prodr. 14: 128. 1856; Hook. f., l.c. 41; R.R.Stewart, Ann. Cat. Vasc. Pl. W. Pak. & Kashm. 211. 1972.

Persicaria humilis (Meisner) H. Hara.