Volume 14 > Part 1 > Year 2018 > Page 130 > Polygonaceae > Persicaria

3. Persicaria capitata (Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don) H.Grosswfo-0000490463

Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 49(2): 277. 1913; H.Hara, Fl. E. Himalaya: 70. 1966; Grierson & D.G.Long, Fl. Bhutan 1(1): 165. 1983; Kantachot et al., Thai Forest Bull., Bot. 38: 133. 2010.—Polygonum capitatum Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don, Prodr. Fl. Nepal: 73. 1825; Meisn., Monogr. Polyg.: 82. 1826; Meisn. in DC., Prodr. 14(1): 129. 1856; Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 5: 44. 1886; Steward, Contr. Gray Herb. 88: 78. 1930; P.H.Hô, Câyco Việtnam 1(2): 945. 1991; Philcox in Dassan. & Clayton, Revis. Handb. Fl. Ceylon 11: 403. 1997; A.J.Li et al. in C.Y. Wu et al., Fl. China 5: 301. 2003; N.T.Do in Bân, Fl. Vietnam 11: 147. 2007. Plate XIII: F.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Synonyms & Citations :

Description : Erect or creeping herbs, (15–)20–25(–30) cm tall; stem and branches terete, glabrous. Leaves with petioles (0.5–)1–2 mm long, sparsely hispid hairs, auricles usually present, with hispid hairs at margin; lamina elliptic or ovate, (1.8–)2–2.8(–3.2) by 1–1.5(–2) cm, apex acute or acuminate, base cuneate or attenuate, margin entire with ciliate hairs, sparsely to moderately hispid on both surfaces, primary vein moderately hispid on both surfaces; secondary veins (5–)6–7(–8)-paired, without intramarginal vein. Ocreae cylindrical, 5–8(–10) mm long, scarious, hispid, venation conspicuous with 12–16(–18) veins, apex slightly truncate, with 20–28(–32) bristles. Inflorescences terminal and axillary, a single capitulum or capitate panicle, (4.5–)5.5–8(–10) cm long, erect; inflorescence branches glabrous, except underneath capitula moderately hispid and with glandular hairs; capitula (4–)5–8 mm long, globose; leafy bracts usually present, 5–8(–12) by 2–5 mm, ovate, apex acute, margin entire with ciliate hairs; without leafy bracteoles subtending globose head branches. Flowers 3–5 in an ocreola; pedicels ca 1 mm long, glabrous; bracteoles 1–1.2(–1.5) mm long, hyaline; ocreolae incompletely enclosing rachis, 2.8–3(–3.2) mm long, glabrous, apex obtuse and acute, margin entire without hispid hairs and bristles. Tepals 5, whitish pink; lobes 1–1.2 by 0.5–1 mm, ovate, apex obtuse, with 3–5 veins, without glandular dots; tube 1–1.5 mm long, eglandular. Stamens 8, in two whorls; outer ones 0.6–1.2 mm long, inner ones 1–1.5 mm long; anthers white. Styles 3, 1.2–1.5 mm long; stigmas capitate, white. Fruits with scarious perianth, triangular, 1–1.2(–1.5) by 0.8–1 mm, shiny black.

Thailand : Cultivated.

Distribution : India, Sri Lanka, Nepal (type), China, Taiwan, Vietnam.

Ecology : Cultivated as an ornamental plant.

Vernacular : Soi bupha (สร้อยบุปผา).