Water-pepper - Persicaria hydropiper
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Species Description
Widespread and fairly frequent throughout the UK but most common in the Western half. Habitat includes: Damp, base-poor soils in places such as damp mud on the margins of ponds, lakes, canals, rivers and streams, shallow depressions such as vehicle tracks and hoof-marks in woodland rides, field gateways, wet meadows etc. Growing habit: Annual. Height: Up to 75 cm. Flowers: June to September. Other names include: Water Pepperwort, Marshpepper Knotweed, Arse Smart, Tade, Bite-tongue, Ciderage, Culrage, Curage, Lakeweed, Red Knees, Red Leaves, Smartweed.
Stace 4:
Persicaria hydropiper (L.) Delarbre (Polygonum hydropiper L.) - Water-pepper.
Decumbent to more or less erect, more or less glabrous annual to 75cm; leaves lanceolate to linear-lanceolate; inflorescence tapering, rather lax, often nodding, mainly greenish; peduncle glandular or not; perianth with many (Rarely few) sessile glands; achene 2.5-3.8mm, dull, lenticular or 3-angled; 2n=?20, (20, 22). Native; damp places and shallow water, often shaded; throughout British Isles but very scattered in North Scotland.
Key:
- Annual, but often rooting at lower nodes; stamens always included
- Fresh leaves with sharp peppery taste (usually strong, sometimes faint); achenes with minutely punctate dull surface; perianth with many sessile glands; hairs on face of stipules (not terminal cilia) fused to stipule for >3/4 of their length