Smartweeds

You are probably wondering, "how can a weed be smart?" In researching this, I found little more than circular references from old English. Perhaps there is a phonetic history having nothing to do with being "smart" as we say. In any event, I was smart enough to find two of the Polygonum genus growing in local parks recently! In the Northwest, there are over 30 species of plants called "smartweeds," so identification can be confusing.


The scientific names make more sense. Polygonum means "many knees," which is how these plants are structured with their swollen jointed stems.


Other members of this genus include Curlydock and Sheep Sorrel, both considered invasive in Oregon.


We found both of these growing at Jackson Bottom Wetlands (8/14/2013)

Water Smartweed (Polygonum amphibium)

Water Smartweed Leaves

Dockleaf Smartweed (Polygonum lapathifolium)

Dockleaf Smartweed (Polygonum lapathifolium) flower detail