Prostrate knotweed – Polygonum aviculare
Polygonum 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 State University and Nanjing Agricultural University in China finalize dual-degree agreement
Published on September 12, 2019
-
CANR meets academic needs to prepare students for their futures
Published on February 1, 2020
-
How to support children after one year of virtual learning
Published on March 17, 2021
-
Reciprocal Research: A Guidebook to Centering Community in Partnerships with Indigenous Nations
Published on April 22, 2021
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.