Singapore Government Logo

A Singapore Government Agency Website

Persicaria chinensis

Back

Persicaria chinensis (L.) H. Gross

Family Name: Polygonaceae
Synonyms:
Common Name: Chinese Knotweed, Sembuluh, 火炭母

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments

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

Images

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.
Species record last updated on: 21 March 2022.
Share