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This species is accepted, and its native range is Tropical & Subtropical Old World.
Polygonum plebeium R.Br.

[FZ]

Flora Zambesiaca. Vol. 9, Part 3. Polygonaceae-Myriaceae. Pope GV, Polhill RM, Martins ES. 2006.

Type
Type from Australia.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary 0.8–1 mm long; styles 3, free, c. 3 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Nut smooth, black and shiny, 1.2–2 × 1 mm, trigonous, with 3 equal concave sides. Nut smooth, black and shiny, 1.2–2 × 1 mm, trigonous, with 3 equal concave sides.
Ecology
In drying mud flats and sandy alluvium of pans, and lake and riversides, and in dry beds of seasonal rivers; 20–1350 m.
Distribution
Widespread in the drier parts of Africa, Madagascar, tropical Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Botswana ZIM E ZIM C ZIM W ZIM N Zimbabwe Zambia BOT N, BOT SE, ZAM B, ZAM W, ZAM C, ZAM E, ZAM S MAL N Malawi ZIM S MOZ M MOZ GI MOZ M MOZ T MOZ N Mozambique MAL C
Morphology General Habit
Prostrate creeping leafy annual herb, forming mats. Prostrate creeping leafy annual herb, forming mats
Morphology Stem
Stems reddish-brown, up to 1 m long, much branched, scabrid, becoming somewhat woody at the base. Stems reddish-brown, up to 1 m long, much branched, scabrid, becoming somewhat woody at the base
Morphology Leaves
Leaves all similar, subsessile; lamina rather leathery and glabrous, dark green to reddish-brown, 5–13 × 2–5 mm, oblong or linear-oblong to elliptic, acute and slightly mucronate at the apex, attenuate to the base, margins revolute, midrib conspicuous. Leaves all similar, subsessile; lamina rather leathery and glabrous, dark green to reddish-brown, 5–13 × 2–5 mm, oblong or linear-oblong to elliptic, acute and slightly mucronate at the apex, attenuate to the base, margins revolute, midrib conspicuous
Morphology Leaves Ocrea
Ocrea silvery hyaline at least above, c. 5 mm long, deeply lacerate, with inconspicuous veins, glabrous. Ocrea silvery hyaline at least above, c. 5 mm long, deeply lacerate, with inconspicuous veins, glabrous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers subsessile, in numerous 1–3(5)-flowered axillary fascicles; fascicles surrounded by leafy bracts. Flowers subsessile, in numerous 1–3(5)-flowered axillary fascicles; fascicles surrounded by leafy bracts
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth
Perianth 2 mm long, deeply lobed; lobes greenish with creamy-white or pinkish-white to reddish-pink margins, 1.5 mm long, lanceolate-elliptic. Perianth 2 mm long, deeply lobed; lobes greenish with creamy-white or pinkish-white to reddish-pink margins, 1.5 mm long, lanceolate-elliptic. Stamens 4; filaments up to 1 mm long, filiform
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 4; filaments up to 1 mm long, filiform.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary 0.8–1 mm long; styles 3, free, c. 3 mm long.

[FTEA]

Polygonaceae, R. A. Graham. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1958

Morphology General Habit
A glabrous, much branched, prostrate, leafy, annual herb.
Morphology Stem
Stems scabrid, reddish-brown.
Morphology Leaves Ocrea
Ocreae silvery in the upper part or throughout most of their length, with concolorous veins, very readily lacerating, fringed with laciniae of varying length up to 2 mm. long.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves very small, up to 13 × 2.5 mm., all of a similar size, linear to narrowly obovate-elliptic, marginally revolute, glabrous and rather leathery, dark green becoming red; midrib obvious but lateral veins scarcely perceptible.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a shortly branched, leafy, congested raceme.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers in axillary clusters 1–3 (–5) together.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth
Perianth greenish, 2 mm. long. Tepals 4, ± 1.5 mm. long, lanceolate-elliptic, the outer pair keeled, the inner pair flat.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Styles 3, free, ± 3 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Nut trigonous, smooth, black, shining, 1.5–2 mm. long.
Figures
Fig. 3/6 and 7.
Habitat
Apparently confined to dried river-beds and drying mud-flats beside lakes; possibly introduced;690–1600 m.
Distribution
T4 T5 T6

[FWTA]

Polygonaceae, Hutchinson and Dalziel. Flora of West Tropical Africa 1:1. 1954

Morphology General Habit
Much-branched prostrate herb
Ecology
Of dry regions
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers pinkish-red or white
Note
A very variable species.

Native to:

Andaman Is., Angola, Assam, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Burkina, Cambodia, Cape Provinces, Chad, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, East Himalaya, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Free State, India, Inner Mongolia, Jawa, Kazakhstan, Korea, KwaZulu-Natal, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Manchuria, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New South Wales, Niger, Nigeria, Northern Provinces, Northern Territory, Pakistan, Philippines, Qinghai, Queensland, Senegal, South Australia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tibet, Victoria, Vietnam, West Himalaya, Western Australia, Zambia, Zaïre, Zimbabwe

Introduced into:

Idaho, Khabarovsk, Magadan, Mauritius, Réunion

Polygonum plebeium R.Br. appears in other Kew resources:

Date Reference Identified As Barcode Type Status
Strachey, R. [Cat. no. s.n.], India Polygonum herniarioides K001132903

First published in Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holland.: 420 (1810)

Accepted by

  • Akeroyd, J.R. (2013). Docks and Knotweeds of Britain and Ireland: 1-258. Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland.
  • Akoègninou, A., van der Burg, W.J. & van der Maesen, L.J.G. (eds.) (2006). Flore Analytique du Bénin: 1-1034. Backhuys Publishers.
  • Balkrishna, A. (2018). Flora of Morni Hills (Research & Possibilities): 1-581. Divya Yoga Mandir Trust.
  • Barooah, C. & Ahmed, I. (2014). Plant diversity of Assam. A checklist of Angiosperms and Gymnosperms: 1-599. Assam science technology and environment council, India.
  • Barry, J. P. & Celles, J.S. (1991). Flore de Mauritanie 1: 1-359. Centre Regional de Documentation Pedagogique, Nice.
  • Bosser, J. & al. (eds.) (1994). Flore des Mascareignes 136-148: 1. IRD Éditions, MSIRI, RBG-Kew, Paris.
  • Boudet, G., Lebrun, J.P. & Demange, R. (1986). Catalogue des plantes vasculaires du Mali: 1-465. Etudes d'Elevage et de Médecine Vétérinaire des Pays Tropicaux.
  • Boulos, L. (1999). Flora of Egypt 1: 1-419. Al Hadara Publishing, Cairo.
  • Chayamarit, K. & Balslev, H. (2018). Flora of Thailand 14(1): 1-184. The Forest Herbarium, Royal Forest Department.
  • Darbyshire, I., Kordofani, M., Farag, I., Candiga, R. & Pickering, H. (eds.) (2015). The Plants of Sudan and South Sudan: 1-400. Kew publishing, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Dobignard, A. & Chatelain, C. (2013). Index synonymique de la flore d'Afrique du nord 5: 1-451. Éditions des conservatoire et jardin botaniques, Genève.
  • Edwards, S., Tadesse, M., Demissew, S. & Hedberg, I. (eds.) (2000). Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea 2(1): 1-532. The National Herbarium, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia & The Department of Systematic Botany, Upps.
  • Figueiredo, E. & Smith, G.F. (2008). Plants of Angola Strelitzia 22: 1-279. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
  • Flora of North America Editorial Committee (2005). Flora of North America North of Mexico 5: 1-656. Oxford University Press, New York, Oxford.
  • Germishuizen, G. & Meyer, N.L. (eds.) (2003). Plants of Southern Africa an annotated checklist Strelitzia 14: 1-1231. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
  • Graham, R.A. (1958). Flora of Tropical East Africa, Polygonaceae: 1-40.
  • Grierson, A.J.C. & Long, D.G. (1983). Flora of Bhutan 1(1): 1-186. Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh.
  • Hutchinson, J., Dalziel, J.M. & Keay, R.W.J. (1954-1958). Flora of West Tropical Africa, ed. 2, 1: 1-828.
  • Kharkevich, S.S. (ed.) (1989). Plantae Vasculares Orientalis Extremi Sovietici 4: 1-380. Nauka, Leningrad.
  • Kress, W.J., DeFilipps, R.A., Farr, E. & Kyi, D.Y.Y. (2003). A Checklist of the Trees, Shrubs, Herbs and Climbers of Myanmar Contributions from the United States National Herbarium 45: 1-590. Smithsonian Institution.
  • Kumar, S. (2012). Herbaceous flora of Jaunsar-Bawar (Uttarkhand), India: enumerations Phytotaxonomy 12: 33-56.
  • Lebrun, J.p., Toutain, B., Gaston, A. & Boudet, G. (1991). Catalogue des Plantes Vasculaires du Burkina Faso: 1-341. Institut d' Elevage et de Médecine Vétérinaire des Pays Tropicaux, Maisons Alfort.
  • Lê, T.C. (2003). Danh l?c các loài th?c v?t Vi?t Nam 2: 1-1203. Hà N?i : Nhà xu?t b?n Nông nghi?p.
  • Maliya, S.D. & Datt, B. (2010). A contribution to the flora of Katarniyaghat wildlife sanctuary, Baharaich district, Uttar Pradesh Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany 34: 42-68.
  • Mao, A.A., Odyuo, N., Verma, D. & Singh, P. (2017). Checklist of Flora of Nagaland: 1-196. Botanical Survey of India.
  • Meena, S.L. (2012). A checklist of the vascular plants of Banaskantha district, Gujarat, India Nelumbo 54: 39-91.
  • Mostaph, M.K. & Uddin, S.B. (2013). Dictionary of plant names of Bangladesh, Vasc. Pl.: 1-434. Janokalyan Prokashani, Chittagong, Bangladesh.
  • Newman, M., Ketphanh, S., Svengsuksa, B., Thomas, P., Sengdala, K., Lamxay, V. & Armstrong, K. (2007). A checklist of the vascular plants of Lao PDR: 1-394. Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh.
  • Pandey, R.P. & Dilwakar, P.G. (2008). An integrated check-list flora of Andaman and Nicobar islands, India Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany 32: 403-500.
  • Park, C.W. (ed.) (2018). Flora of Korea 3: 1-131. National Institute of Biological Resources.
  • Peyre de Fabregues, B. & Lebrun, J.-P. (1976). Catalogue des Plantes Vascularies du Niger: 1-433. Institut d' Elevage et de Médecine Vétérinaire des Pays Tropicaux, Maisons Alfort.
  • Pope, G.V., Polhill, R.M. & Martins, E.S. (eds.) (2006). Flora Zambesiaca 9(3): 1-277. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Qaiser, M. (2001). Flora of Pakistan 205: 1-190. Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi.
  • Robyns, W. & al. (eds.) (1948-1963). Flore du Congo Belge et du Ruanda-Urundi 1-10.
  • Sarmah, K.K. & Borthakur, S.K. (2009). A checklist of angiospermic plants of Manas national park in Assam, India Pleione 3: 190-200.
  • Sikarwar, R.L.S. (2014). Angiosperm diversity assessment of Chitrakootthe legendary place of Vindhyan range, India Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany 38: 563-619.
  • Singh, M. & Ali, S.J. (2008). A study on aquatic Angiosperms of district Mau (East U.P.) Journal of East African Natural History 32: 877-890.
  • Wu, Z. & Raven, P.H. (eds.) (2003). Flora of China 5: 1-505. Science Press (Beijing) & Missouri Botanical Garden Press (St. Louis).

Literature

Flora of West Tropical Africa

  • Chev. Bot. 537.
  • —F.T.A. 6, 1: 105

Flora Zambesiaca

  • Burtt Davy, Fl. Pl. Ferns Transvaal, part 1: 169 (1926).
  • F.C.B. 1: 410 (1948).
  • F.T.A. 6, 1: 105 (1909).
  • F.T.E.A., Polygonaceae: 13, fig. 3/6, 7 (1958).
  • F.W.T.A., ed. 2, 1: 140 (1954).
  • Fl. Madagascar, fam. 65, Polygonacées: 9 (1953).
  • Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 9: 57 (1954).
  • Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holl.: 420 (1810).
  • Prodr. Fl. SW. Afrika, fam. 23: 8 (1969). TAB. 5.
  • Trans. Roy. Soc. South Africa 5: 346 (1916).

Kew Backbone Distributions

  • Akoègninou, A., van der Burg, W.J. & van der Maesen, L.J.G. (eds.) (2006). Flore Analytique du Bénin: 1-1034. Backhuys Publishers.
  • Barry, J. P. & Celles, J.S. (1991). Flore de Mauritanie 1: 1-359. Centre Regional de Documentation Pedagogique, Nice.
  • Bosser, J. & al. (eds.) (1994). Flore des Mascareignes 136-148: 1. IRD Éditions, MSIRI, RBG-Kew, Paris.
  • Boudet, G., Lebrun, J.P. & Demange, R. (1986). Catalogue des plantes vasculaires du Mali: 1-465. Etudes d'Elevage et de Médecine Vétérinaire des Pays Tropicaux.
  • Boulos, L. (1999). Flora of Egypt 1: 1-419. Al Hadara Publishing, Cairo.
  • Chayamarit, K. & Balslev, H. (2018). Flora of Thailand 14(1): 1-184. The Forest Herbarium, Royal Forest Department.
  • Chou, S., Chhnang, P. & Kim, Y. (2016). A Checklist for the Seed Plants of Cambodia: 1-272. National Institute of Biological Resources, Korea.
  • Darbyshire, I., Kordofani, M., Farag, I., Candiga, R. & Pickering, H. (eds.) (2015). The Plants of Sudan and South Sudan: 1-400. Kew publishing, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Dassanayake (ed.) (1997). A Revised Handbook to the Flora of Ceylon 11: 1-420. Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. PVT. LTD., New Delhi, Calcutta.
  • Edwards, S., Tadesse, M., Demissew, S. & Hedberg, I. (eds.) (2000). Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea 2(1): 1-532. The National Herbarium, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia & The Department of Systematic Botany, Upps.
  • Figueiredo, E. & Smith, G.F. (2008). Plants of Angola Strelitzia 22: 1-279. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
  • Flora of North America Editorial Committee (2005). Flora of North America North of Mexico 5: 1-656. Oxford University Press, New York, Oxford.
  • Germishuizen, G. & Meyer, N.L. (eds.) (2003). Plants of Southern Africa an annotated checklist Strelitzia 14: 1-1231. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
  • Graham, R.A. (1958). Flora of Tropical East Africa, Polygonaceae: 1-40.
  • Grierson, A.J.C. & Long, D.G. (1983). Flora of Bhutan 1(1): 1-186. Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh.
  • Hutchinson, J., Dalziel, J.M. & Keay, R.W.J. (1954-1958). Flora of West Tropical Africa, ed. 2, 1: 1-828.
  • Kharkevich, S.S. (ed.) (1989). Plantae Vasculares Orientalis Extremi Sovietici 4: 1-380. Nauka, Leningrad.
  • Kress, W.J., DeFilipps, R.A., Farr, E. & Kyi, D.Y.Y. (2003). A Checklist of the Trees, Shrubs, Herbs and Climbers of Myanmar Contributions from the United States National Herbarium 45: 1-590. Smithsonian Institution.
  • Kumar, S. (2012). Herbaceous flora of Jaunsar-Bawar (Uttarkhand), India: enumerations Phytotaxonomy 12: 33-56.
  • Lebrun, J.p., Toutain, B., Gaston, A. & Boudet, G. (1991). Catalogue des Plantes Vasculaires du Burkina Faso: 1-341. Institut d' Elevage et de Médecine Vétérinaire des Pays Tropicaux, Maisons Alfort.
  • Lê, T.C. (2003). Danh l?c các loài th?c v?t Vi?t Nam 2: 1-1203. Hà N?i : Nhà xu?t b?n Nông nghi?p.
  • Mostaph, M.K. & Uddin, S.B. (2013). Dictionary of plant names of Bangladesh, Vasc. Pl.: 1-434. Janokalyan Prokashani, Chittagong, Bangladesh.
  • Newman, M., Ketphanh, S., Svengsuksa, B., Thomas, P., Sengdala, K., Lamxay, V. & Armstrong, K. (2007). A checklist of the vascular plants of Lao PDR: 1-394. Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh.
  • Pandey, R.P. & Dilwakar, P.G. (2008). An integrated check-list flora of Andaman and Nicobar islands, India Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany 32: 403-500.
  • Park, C.W. (ed.) (2018). Flora of Korea 3: 1-131. National Institute of Biological Resources.
  • Peyre de Fabregues, B. & Lebrun, J.-P. (1976). Catalogue des Plantes Vascularies du Niger: 1-433. Institut d' Elevage et de Médecine Vétérinaire des Pays Tropicaux, Maisons Alfort.
  • Pope, G.V., Polhill, R.M. & Martins, E.S. (eds.) (2006). Flora Zambesiaca 9(3): 1-277. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Quézel, P. (1958). Mission Botanique au Tibesti: 1-357. Université d'Alger.
  • Robyns, W. & al. (eds.) (1948-1963). Flore du Congo Belge et du Ruanda-Urundi 1-10.
  • Sarmah, K.K. & Borthakur, S.K. (2009). A checklist of angiospermic plants of Manas national park in Assam, India Pleione 3: 190-200.
  • Singh, M. & Ali, S.J. (2008). A study on aquatic Angiosperms of district Mau (East U.P.) Journal of East African Natural History 32: 877-890.
  • Wu, Z. & Raven, P.H. (eds.) (2003). Flora of China 5: 1-505. Science Press (Beijing) & Missouri Botanical Garden Press (St. Louis).

Flora of Tropical East Africa

  • Baker & C.H. Wright in Flora of Tropical Africa 6 (1): 105 (1909).
  • Hook. f., Fl. Br. Ind. 5: 27 (1890).
  • Keay in Flora of West Tropical Africa, ed. 2, 1: 140 (1954).
  • R. Br., Prodr.: 420 (1810).

Art and Illustrations in Digifolia
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Flora Zambesiaca
Flora Zambesiaca
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

Flora of Tropical East Africa
Flora of Tropical East Africa
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

Flora of West Tropical Africa
Flora of West Tropical Africa
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Herbarium Catalogue Specimens
Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Kew Backbone Distributions
The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families 2021. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
© Copyright 2017 World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone
The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families 2021. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
© Copyright 2017 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Kew Science Photographs
Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Plants and People Africa
Common Names from Plants and People Africa http://www.plantsandpeopleafrica.com/
© Plants and People Africa http://www.plantsandpeopleafrica.com http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/