Halberd-leaf tearthumb

Description

Persicaria arifolia is a flowering plant species in the family Polygonaceae. Commonly called Halberd-leaf tearthumb, Persicaria arifolia is found in high concentrations in the midwest and northeast United states predominantly. It grows in damp areas usually close to bodies of water such as; ponds, rivers, and marshes. Persicaria arifolia was originally described by Charles Linneas in 1753. The plant is annual and it flowers between the summer and the fall. Once flowers bloom, they have a pink and white appearance. At maturity, Persicaria arifolia grows to be 2-4 feet tall. The common name of Halberd-leaf tearthumb is because of the small thorns on the stem of the plant that can cut into the skin. Persicaria arifolia can be found in many places across North America. The plant can be found along the Eastern side of the United States and Canada; ranging from as south as Georgia to as north as Quebec. Persicaria arifolia can also be found in high concentrations in the midwest region of the United States. The plant can be found near marshes and brushy areas. The genus includes annual and perennial herbs with taproots or fibrous root systems, or with rhizomes or stolons. The stems are often erect but may be prostrate along the ground, and some species are prickly. The stems are self-supporting or twining and climbing.The leaves are alternately arranged, deciduous, and variously shaped. The brownish or reddish ochrea may be leathery to papery. The inflorescence may be a panicle or a spikelike or headlike arrangement of fascicles of flowers. The flower is white, greenish, reddish, pink or purple, with the tepals partially fused together along the bases. The fruit is an achene which can take a number of shapes, including a disc or a sphere. Within the family Polygonaceae, Persicaria is placed in the subfamily Polygonoideae, where the tribe Persicarieae consists of two sister genera, Bistorta and Koenigia, together with Persicaria.