Common name: Princes Feathers
Persicaria orientalis (L.) Spach APNI* Synonyms: Polygonum orientale L. APNI*
Description: Erect herb 1–2 m high, densely hairy, hairs 0.5–1.0 mm long, spreading to antrorse.
Leaves ± ovate, 6–22 cm long, 35–120 mm wide, occasionally with scattered sessile glands and/or stalked glandular hairs as well as spreading to antrorse hairs; petiole 1.5–8 cm long; ocrea pubescent, limb collar-like, to 7 mm wide, entire.
Spikes elongate-cylindrical, dense, 3.5–8 cm long, 5–10 mm diam. Perianth segments 2.6–4.0 mm long.
Achene unequally lenticular, 2.0–3.0 mm long, 2.1–3.0 mm diam., brown to black.
Distribution and occurrence: Widely distributed over the State and in warmer regions of Australia and Malesia. Widespread in and near water.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, NWS, CWS, SWS, NWP, SWP
Other Australian states: Qld N.T.
There is a cultivated form that has very big leaves and dark pink to red flowers; this is not known to be naturalised.
Text by K. L. Wilson (1990); edited KL Wilson (Jan 2014)
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 1 (1990)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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