Pale Knotweed (Persicaria lapathifolia)
© Harry Rose
Native (?), warm season, annual, erect to ascending herb 50–180 cm tall; sometimes rooting at nodes, often reddish and with scattered sessile glands. Leaves are ovate to narrow-elliptic, 6–21 cm long, 10–45 mm wide, glandular and occasionally with a dark mark on the upper surface. Flowerheads are elongate-cylindrical, dense spikes, 2.5–6 cm long, 4–7 mm diam., with flowers crowded and overlapping. Perianth segments are 1.5–2.7 mm long and white to pinkish. Widespread over the State and in other States. Generally in habitats favoured by pioneer species and introduced species, so its status is not clear, but here regarded as probably native. In at least seasonally damp, open situations such as beside streams and roadside ditches.
Photo taken on 9 Apr 2008