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Polygonum sagittatum
Common Name of Genus: Arrow Tearthumb
Family: Polygonaceae
Description: Weak-stemmed sprawling annual that uses backward-pointing hooks on the stem and leaves to help it climb over other plants. This plant's name comes from these hooks which are stiff enough to break skin
Leaves: Simple, narrowly arrowhead-shaped leaves, pointed at the tip, with a pair of pointed lobes at the base, smooth, up to 7-8 cm long
Flowers: Up to 12 flowers in small, rounded clusters. Flowers are pink or white, with 5 sepals
Seeds: Achenes triangular, black-brown, and shiny
Stem: Sprawling or climbing, with numerous stiff, downward-pointing hairs
Branching Pattern: Alternate
Height: 0.6 to 1.2 meters
Conditions/Habitat/Kind of Forest: Marshes, wet thickets, and along streams
Range: Throughout North America from Newfoundland to Northwest Territory, south to Florida
Conservation Status-US/ World Wide: Not threatened
Uses (Human): There are no known edible uses but the plant may sometimes be used in the treatment of nephritic colic, relieving the pains caused by gravel
References:
Aquatic and Wetland Vascular Plants of the Northern Great Plains. February 23, 2005. Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center. Accessed: January 20, 2006. <http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/othrdata/plntguid/species/polysagi.htm>
Connecticut Wildflowers. January 20, 2006. Connecticut Botanical Society. Accessed: January 20, 2006. <http://www.ct-botanical-society.org/galleries/polygonumsagi.html>
Plants for a Future. June 2004. Accessed: January 20, 2006. <http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Polygonum+sagittatum>
The Pennsylvania Flora Project. Botany Department, Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania. Accessed: January 20, 2006. <http://www.paflora.org/Web3/Searchbyplantname_detail.asp?key=2121&itemNumber=0>