Biology:Polygonum affine

From HandWiki

Polygonum affine
Polygonum affine2.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
(unranked):
(unranked):
(unranked):
Order:
Family:
Genus:
Species:
P. affine
Binomial name
Polygonum affine
D. Don
Synonyms[1][2]
  • Persicaria affinis (D. Don) Ronse Decr.
  • Bistorta affinis (D. Don) Greene
  • Polygonum donianum Spreng.

Polygonum affine (syn. Persicaria affinis), the Himalayan bistort,[3] fleece flower, or knotweed, is a species of flowering plant in the family Polygonaceae, native to the Himalayas (Tibet, Nepal, northern India, Pakistan, Kashmir).

Description

Polygonum affine is a creeping, densely tufted, mat-forming perennial, growing to 25 cm (10 in) tall by 60 cm (24 in) broad. The narrow elliptic leaves are white on the underside because of a waxy coating. Leaves are mostly at the base, 3–8 cm long, with the base narrowed to a short stalk. Leaf margins are entire or very finely toothed. The mid-vein is prominent. Cylindrical spikes of many pale pink or rose-red flowers are borne at the top of short erect stems, from midsummer to autumn. Flower-spikes are 5–7.5 cm (2–3 in) long, with densely crowded flowers. Stamens protrude slightly out of the flowers. Flowering stems are several, 5–25 cm tall, with very few smaller leaves. When the flowers have died, they tend to persist on the plant into winter.[4][5]

Habitat

Polygonum affine is found in the Himalayas, from Afghanistan to eastern Nepal, at altitudes of 3,000–4,800 m (9,843–15,748 ft).[6]

Cultivation

Polygonum affine is used ornamentally as groundcover.[7] The following cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:-[8]

References

Wikidata ☰ Q7170299 entry