Scientific Family
Polygonaceae
Other common names
water smartweed
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
Stems 3 to 6 feet
Riparian
Yes
Freely rooting from rhizomes, long, prostrate stems growing across mud or in water and topped with erect, dense, narrowly egg-shaped, pink flower clusters.
Rhizomatous perennial, aquatic or amphibious or terrestrial. Stems not twining. Leaves basal and alike, elliptic or rounded, not jointed with the stipule sheath. Spike-like flower heads of pink flowers are short and thick, terminal or nearly so.
Habitat
Marshes, ponds and lakes.
Plant Community
Riparian
Low elevation
5000
High elevation
9000
Flower Characteristics
Individual flowers are tiny, less than 1/4 inch wide and 3/16 inch long, and form a slender, 2 inch long, terminal cluster. Tepals (sepals and petals) 5, bluntly rounded above, united below.
Flower color
Deep pink
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
June
Last bloom month
September
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves are shiny and leathery; mainly floating; 6 inches long.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Dark green
Leaf shape
Round or oval
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
No