Persicaria lapathifolia
 
Pale Smartweed

Flower Side - Near Tepal Removed

Regina
21-August-2025

Each flower has four (occasionally five) tepals, five to six stamens, and two (occasionally three) styles. Note the styles are less than 2 mm long. 

A key to all species of family Polygonaceae that are found in Alberta, written by Lorna Allen and Linda Kershaw, is found here.  A key to Saskatchewan species of genus Persicaria, derived from the key in the Flora of North America, is found here.

Polygonaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora leading to this family. The answers do not all apply to all genera in Polygonaceae, but they all do apply to genus Persicaria.

herbs; NOT [shrubs or trees]

land plants; NOT [water plants]

plants not parasitic on trees

plants with more than one pair of leaves; NOT [plants with a single pair of large reniform leaves]

leaves alternate; NOT [leaves opposite]

stipules present

stipules forming a sheath above nodes

flowers perfect