Polygonum

Polygonum is a genus of about 130 species of flowering plant in the buckwheat and knotweed family Polygonaceae. Common names include knotweed and knotgrass (though the common names may refer more broadly to plants from Polygonaceae). In the Middle Ages, the plant was known as wayside knotgrass.

Description

The genus is characterized by its oval and alternate leaves, stem nodes that are swollen and surrounded by a sheath, and flowers that are small, pink, and bell-shaped. The species are very diverse, ranging from prostrate annual plants under 5 cm high to perennial plants growing up to 3-4 m tall.

Distribution and habitat

Polygonum species are found throughout the world, with the highest diversity in temperate regions. They are present in a variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, coastal areas, and disturbed areas such as roadsides and gardens.

Uses

Many Polygonum species are cultivated as ornamental plants, and some are used in traditional medicine. For example, Polygonum bistorta is used in European herbal medicine for its astringent properties, and Polygonum multiflorum is used in Chinese medicine for its supposed anti-aging effects.

Species

Some of the species in the Polygonum genus include:

• Polygonum aviculare, known as common knotgrass
• Polygonum bistorta, known as bistort or meadow bistort
• Polygonum cuspidatum, known as Japanese knotweed
• Polygonum multiflorum, known as fo-ti or he shou wu

See also

• List of Polygonum species

References

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