Prostrate knotweed – Polygonum aviculare
Print
EmailPolygonum aviculare L.
Polygonaceae (Smartweed family)
MI Status
Non-native
Life cycle
Prostrate, mat-forming summer annual.
Leaves
Alternate, narrow oval to oblong leaves with pointed tips, smooth margins and short petioles.
Stems
Prostrate, tough, wiry stems with distinct nodes are highly branched and mat-forming. Plants perform well in compacted areas. A membranous sheath (ocrea) surrounds the stem at the base of each petiole.
Flowers and fruit
Small, inconspicuous flowers are white to pinkish and clustered in the leaf axils. The seed is enclosed in a single-seeded, dark reddish brown, three-sided fruit.
Reproduction
Seeds.
Other Documents in this Series
You Might Also Be Interested In
-
Michigan Department of Transportation Vegetation Management & Sunflower Plots with Carla Ahlschwede
Published on April 12, 2023
-
Trees for bees: from planting to pruning with Mike Connor
Published on February 25, 2023
-
Michigan Bee Plants with Dr. Zachary Huang
Published on April 26, 2021
-
The buzz about native bees with Dr. Michelle Fearon
Published on April 22, 2021
-
Native bees of Michigan with Dr. Rebecca Tonietto
Published on June 17, 2021
-
Flowering Bee Lawns with James Wolfin
Published on April 19, 2022
Accessibility Questions:
For questions about accessibility and/or if you need additional accommodations for a specific document, please send an email to ANR Communications & Marketing at anrcommunications@anr.msu.edu.