Polygonum marinense is a rare North American species of flowering plants in the buckwheat family known by the common name Marin knotweed. It is endemic to California, where it is known from just a few locations north and east of San Francisco Bay.[2]
| Polygonum marinense | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Polygonaceae |
| Genus: | Polygonum |
| Species: | P. marinense
|
| Binomial name | |
| Polygonum marinense | |
The taxonomy of the plant is uncertain. It has been suggested that the species may be native to the Mediterranean, and that the California specimens may actually be introduced.[3][4] If, however, it is a true Bay Area endemic, the plant is rare and threatened by habitat destruction and disturbance.[5] It is a resident of salt marsh and other wet coastal habitat.
Polygonum marinense is an annual herb producing a ribbed, reddish stem growing prostrate or erect to a maximum height near 40 centimeters (16 inches). The narrow oval or lance-shaped leaves are alternately arranged along the slender stem. Each reddish leaf has a funnel-shaped stipule that wraps around the leaf base to form an ochrea. Flowers occur in the leaf axils. They are greenish with white or pink-tinged edges.[3]
References edit
- ^ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0".
- ^ Calflora taxon report, University of California, Polygonum marinense T. Mert. & Raven, Marin knotweed
- ^ a b Flora of North America, Polygonum marinense T. R. Mertens & P. H. Raven, 1965. Marin knotweed
- ^ Mertens, Thomas Robert & Raven, Peter Hamilton. 1965. Madroño 18(3): 87–88
- ^ California Native Plant Society Rare Plant Profile
External links edit
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