Ontario Weeds: Green smartweed
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Excerpt from Publication 505, Ontario Weeds,
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Name: Green smartweed, Polygonum scabrum Moench.,Other Names: renouée scabre, Pale persicaria, Pale smartweed (due to misidentification), renouée grêle rosée
Family: Buckwheat Or Smartweed Family (Polygonaceae)
General Description/Similar Species: Introduced from Europe but almost identical to the smaller plants of Pale smartweed with ocrea and undersurface of upper leaves as in; distinguished from Pale smartweed by having its flowers in shorter and plumper pale green to greenish-white spikes (1-5cm long by 0.8-1.5cm wide; 2/5-2in. by 1/3-2/3in.), its lateral spikes unstalked (no bare stem) in the axils of leaves or on stalks mostly less than 1 cm (2/5in.) long, its sepals only as long as or slightly shorter than the "seed," and its flattened "seed" usually 2mm (1/12in.) in diameter or larger.
Habitat: Green smartweed occurs in fields,
pastures and gardens throughout Ontario but is far less common than
Pale smartweed.
Related Links
... on general Weed
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... on weed identification, order OMAFRA
Publication 505: Ontario Weeds
... on weed control, order OMAFRA
Publication 75: Guide To Weed Control
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