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Taxon  Report  
Persicaria capitata  (Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don) H. Gross
Himalayan smartweed
Persicaria capitata is a perennial herb that is not native to California.
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Bloom Period
Genus: Persicaria
Family: Polygonaceae  
Category: angiosperm  
PLANTS group:Dicot
Jepson eFlora section: eudicot

Wetlands: Occurs usually in non wetlands, occasionally in wetlands

Communities: escaped cultivar

Name Status:
Accepted by JEF

Alternate Names:
JEFPolygonum capitatum
PLANTSPolygonum capitatum
Information about  Persicaria capitata from other sources

[Wikipedia] Asia native, Description, Distribution, Habitat, Uses: Persicaria capitata, the pink-headed persicaria,[2] pinkhead smartweed,[3] pink knotweed, Japanese knotweed, or pink bubble persicaria, is an Asian species of plants in the genus Persicaria within the buckwheat family. It is native to Asia (China, Indian Subcontinent, Indochina)[4] and grown as an ornamental in other countries. It has become naturalized in Australia, South Africa and a few scattered locations in the Americas.[5][6][7] Description Persicaria capitata is a prostrate herb.[6] The leaves are 1 to 6 cm long, 0.7 to 3 cm wide with pink to red bands or blotches and short scattered hairs.[6] The spikes are 5 to 10 mm long and 5 to 7 mm in diameter.[4] Distribution and habitat Persicaria capitata is a native of Asia. It has naturalised in parts of Australia[6] and North America.[3] Between 2008 and 2013 it has been recorded as an invasive plant in Ireland from the Counties Fermanagh, Kilkenny, Wexford and Mayo.[8] Uses Persicaria capitata has been widely used in China in the treatment of various urologic disorders including urinary calculi and urinary tract infections.[9] (contributed by Mary Ann Machi)


Suggested Citation
Calflora: Information on California plants for education, research and conservation, with data contributed by public and private institutions and individuals. [web application]. 2024. Berkeley, California: The Calflora Database [a non-profit organization]. Available: https://www.calflora.org/   (Accessed: 03/28/2024).