Scientific Family
Polygonaceae
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual or perennial
Height
3 feet
Riparian
Yes
Branching occasionally and rather erect in habit.
Flower sepals green (no petals are present), dotted with sunken glands. Sheaths with marginal bristles. Plants not aquatic (not found in standing water).
Habitat
Occurs almost always in wetlands.
Plant Community
Riparian
Low elevation
2500
High elevation
6200
Flower Characteristics
The greenish-white flowers (1/16 inch across) have sepals but no petals and form clusters 1 to 2-1/2 inches long at the end of stems. The 5 sepals are more or less tightly folded against each other and are dotted with white glandular spots.
Flower color
White, green
Flower shape
Bell-shaped
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
July
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves (2 to 6 inches long, 1/4 inch wide) have short petioles. At the base of each leaf is a sheath that wraps around the stem. Usually hairless but sometimes have a few hairs along the lower mid-rib.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit color
Dark brown, black
Each flower is replaced by an achene that is shiny, dark brown to black, three-angled, and rather oblong.