Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Eudicots: Core Eudicots: Caryophyllales
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Persicaria perfoliata
FAMILY
Polygonaceae
Go to FSUS key
Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
Check out EDDMapS.org to see where this has been reported.
Read more about Mile-a-minute-weed at Vascular Plants of North Carolina.
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Polygonum perfoliatum
FAMILY
Polygonaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH Flora of North America north of Mexico, vol. 5 (2005)
Persicaria perfoliata
COMMON NAME:
Asiatic Tearthumb, Mile-a-minute-weed, Mile-a-minute-vine, Devil's-tail Tearthumb
To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.
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Bruce Ackley, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org bug_5437879
Month Unknown
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Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5480315
Month Unknown
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Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5480355
Month Unknown
Stem, petioles, lower surface of major leaf veins w abundant recurved prickles, per Weakley's Flora.
)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5480389
Month Unknown
Ocreae foliaceous, green, orbicular, perfoliate, per Weakley's Flora (2020).
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Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5480394
Month Unknown
Leaves a distinctive equilateral triangle, 1-3" wide, per Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control (Kaufman & Kaufman, 2007).
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Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5480485
Month Unknown
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Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5480493
Month Unknown
Small white flowers emerge from the rounded ocreas, per Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control (Kaufman & Kaufman, 2007).
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Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5480496
Month Unknown
Fruits metallic blue, pea-sized, per Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control (Kaufman & Kaufman, 2007).
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Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5480574
Month Unknown
Vines can grow to 15' long, per Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control (Kaufman & Kaufman, 2007).
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Persicaria perfoliata
FAMILY
Polygonaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Polygonum perfoliatum
FAMILY
Polygonaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Flora of North America north of Mexico, vol. 5
Persicaria perfoliata
1124
Forb
Annual
Habitat: Roadsides, banks, powerline rights-of-way, per Weakley's Flora
Non-native: east Asia
Rare in NC (introduced and spreading rapidly)
CLICK HERE to see a map, notes, and images from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.
This plant is causing problems in natural areas outside its native range, according to authorities such as:
- Forest Health Assessment & Applied Sciences Team: New Invaders of the Southeast
- Kentucky Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2013
- SC List of Regulated Pest Plant Species, 2017
- Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2009
- US Forest Service Southern Research Station
- Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, 2014
IS THE PLANT "ARMED"?
Stem, petioles, and major leaf veins (beneath) have abundant recurved prickles
LEAVES:
Simple
Alternate
FLOWER:
Summer/Fall
Greenish-white
5-parted calyx
Petals absent
Superior ovary
Bisexual
Inflorescence capitate or spikelike, uninterrupted
FRUIT:
Summer/Fall
Blue
Nutlet
TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!
- Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control (Kaufman & Kaufman, 2007) p215
- New Invaders of the Southeast (Rawlins et al., 2018) p031
- Wildflowers of the Atlantic Southeast (Cotterman, Waitt, & Weakley, 2019) p206
If a search such as "Carex leptalea var. leptalea" doesn't deliver the results you want, try "Carex leptalea".
Or, to minimize chances of a misspelling, try just "Carex le".
Less is more: If "pencil flower" doesn't deliver the results you want, try "pencil".