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Persicaria chinensis (L.) H. Gross
| Family Name: | Polygonaceae |
| Synonyms: | |
| Common Name: | Chinese Knotweed, Sembuluh, 火炭母 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant, Creeper |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Shrubby |
| Maximum Height | 0.7 m to 1 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Indian sub-continent, China, Japan, Indochina, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Monsoon Forest, Temperate Forest, Grassland / Savannah/ Scrubland, Mountain) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal, Temperate |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Herbaceous shrub, up to 1m height. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves green with violet-red mid-vein, sometimes with greenish or purplish inverted V-shape spot on upper surface, margins reddish, base sheathed around stems. |
| Stems | Red, often very long, erect or drooping, much branched, ridged, woody at base; underground storage stems (rhizomes) stout. |
| Flowers | Insignificant, white to pinkish, freely-produced in 1-3 flowered terminal or axillary panicled heads with hairy stalks, ariculate at nodes. |
| Fruit | 3-angled globose nuts, maturing to purple black, enclosed within fleshy perianths. |
| Cultivation | Suitable for waterlogged areas. Young leaves may become reddish due to phosphorus deficiency. |
| Etymology | Genus epithet 'Persicaria' derived from medieval name alluding to leaves' resemblance to that of the Peach tree (Prunus persica). |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts : Edible Fruits, Edible Leaves, Edible Stems Food (Fruit or Vegetable) (Herb or Spice) Others: Food: Ripe fruits edible, sour-tasting. Tender young leaves and shoots pickled. Medicinal: Plant juice used to treat eye diseases. Poultice applied to abdomen for stomachaches. Decotion of plant applied to ears to treat eczema. Also used to relieve inflammation and as vermifuge to kill intestinal worms. Deocorative: Flowers sometimes cut and sold as dried flowers. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | General, Container Planting, Parks & Gardens |
| Thematic Landscaping | Economic Garden, Naturalistic Garden |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun, Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Waterlogged Soils (Drains Site), Moist Soils |
| Propagation Method | Stem Cutting |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green, Purple |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth, Glossy / Shiny, Raised / Sunken Veins |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate, Lanceolate, Elliptical) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acuminate |
| Foliar Base | Truncate / Square |
| Typical Foliar Area | Notophyll ( 20.25cm2 - 45 cm2 ) |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Stem Type & Modification | Herbaceous |
|---|---|
| Root Type | Underground (Fibrous Root) |
| Specialised Storage Organ(s) | Underground (Rhizome) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Pink, White |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
| Flower Size - Remarks | 3 - 5mm across |
| Inflorescence Type | Head / Capitulum |
| Ovule Placentation | Basal |
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Black |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | Fleshy Fruit , Non-Accessory Fruit |
| Mature Seed Colour(s) | Black |
| Seed Quantity Per Fruit | Few (1-5) |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 29134 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 3443 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
