Spotted ladysthumb (Polygonum persicaria)
At a glance
- Lifecycle
- Annual
- Exposure
- Full sun
Cultivation
Succeeds in an ordinary garden soil. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits.
Propagation
Seed - sow spring in situ.
Edible uses
Leaves and young shoots - raw or cooked. Seed - raw or cooked. It is rather small and fiddly to utilize.
Medicinal uses
The leaves are astringent, diuretic, rubefacient and vermifuge.
Material uses
A yellow dye is obtained from the plant when alum is used as a mordant.
Habitat
Damp shady places.
Native range
Temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, including Britain.
Scientific synonyms Persicaria maculosa
Same genus
- Knotgrass (Polygonum aviculare)
- Meadow bistort (Polygonum bistorta)
- European knotweed (Polygonum arenarium)
- Narrowleaf knotweed (Polygonum bellardii)
- Alaska Wild Rhubarb (Polygonum alaskanum)
- Alaska wild rhubarb (Polygonum alpinum)
- Water knotweed (Polygonum amphibium)
- Ovalleaf knotweed (Polygonum arenastrum)