Persicaria barbata

Persicaria barbata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Polygonaceae
Genus: Persicaria
Species:
P. barbata
Binomial name
Persicaria barbata
Synonyms[2]
  • Pogalis barbata (L.) Raf.
  • Polygonum barbatum L.

Persicaria barbata, commonly known as bearded knotweed, is a species of flowering plant in the family Polygonaceae.[3][4][5] It is native to the Arabian Peninsula and much of tropical and subtropical Asia, and has also been introduced to parts of Africa and the Pacific islands.[2] The plant typically grows in seasonally dry tropical regions, where it occurs as an erect or sometimes prostrate annual herb, 30–60 cm tall, with hairless, line-grooved stems and lance-shaped leaves up to 15 cm long.[6] In some descriptions it is noted as a perennial, producing robust, loosely branched stems 40–90 cm tall from a creeping rhizomatous rootstock.[7]

Varieties

Two varieties are accepted.[2]

  • Persicaria barbata var. barbata
  • Persicaria barbata var. gracilis (Danser) H.Hara

References

  1. ^ Fl. E. Himalaya: 70 (1966)
  2. ^ a b c "Persicaria barbata (L.) H.Hara | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2025-09-17.
  3. ^ "bearded knotweed (Persicaria barbata)". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2025-09-17.
  4. ^ "Persicaria barbata in Flora of Pakistan @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. Retrieved 2025-09-17.
  5. ^ CABI (2019-11-19). "Polygonum barbatum (knot grass)". CABI Compendium. CABI Compendium 42686. doi:10.1079/cabicompendium.42686.
  6. ^ "Persicaria barbata - Bearded Knotweed". www.flowersofindia.net. Retrieved 2025-09-17.
  7. ^ "Persicaria barbata - Useful Tropical Plants". tropical.theferns.info. Retrieved 2025-09-17.