Persicaria strigosa (R. Br.) Nakai

Himalaya (Kumaun to Bhutan), India, China, Phillipines.

700-1000 m

strigosa: strigose or with stiff appressed hairs, referring to the leaf surface.

A slender straggling annual herb, sometimes rooting at the lower nodes. Stems greenish-brown, simple or branched, with reflexed bristles and sometimes with stalked glands. Leaves 5–10 cm long, narrowly linear-lanceolate, sometimes lobed at the base, hairless pubescent on both surfaces and with reflexed bristles on the midrib and veins above; petiole, bristly. Sheathing stipules (Ochrea) 2–3 cm long, with reflexed bristles and shorter ascending hairs at the apex. Inflorescence a slender, lax, branched terminal panicle with flowers 1-3 together, surrounded by short bracts; peduncle up to 6 cm long, covered with purplish-red stalked glands. Corolla 5-lobed, 2.5–3 mm long, white flushed pink, or pale blue, gland-dotted. Fruit a small nut, c. 2 × 1.5 mm, bluntly 3-sided, smooth and shiny.

Common

Widespread in tropical Africa, Namibia and South Africa, also in Madagascar, Asia and Australia.