Polygonella articulata (L.) Meisn.
Sand jointweed, coastal jointweed
Kingdom Plantae Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom Tracheobionta Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division Magnoliophyta Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class Magnoliopsida Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass Caryophyllidae Cacti, many other succulents, carnivorous plants, and leadworts
Order Caryophyllales Includes cacti, carnations, amaranths, ice plants, and many carnivorous plants
Family Polygonaceae Knotweed or smartweed family
Genus Polygonella A diminutive form of Polygonum; from poly, “many,” and gonu, “knee,” referring to the multiple joints in the stem
Species articulata “Jointed”
About plant names...
These unusual-looking plants are North American natives.
Plants: 4-15″ (10-38 cm) in height, with
very thin, wiry, jointed stems that branch often. If you don't look closely you might mistake them for small tufts of
thin grass. At closer range, though, they are quite striking, since a red papery sheath at each joint
creates an alternating pattern of red and green.
Leaves: Leaves are very small and narrow, and
inrolled.
Flowers: White or pink, sometimes red, on stalks
that are also jointed near the base, in inflorescences usually ¾-1¼″ (2-3.3 cm) long. Flowers are about ⅛″ (3.2 mm) in size, nodding like tiny bells,
with five petals and pink stalks. They bloom from July to November.
Online References:
CalPhotos
Ontario Wildflowers
The Connecticut Botanical Society's Connecticut wildflowers site
EFloras
References:
Newcomb, Lawrence, Morrison, Gordon (Illus.), Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide , Little, Brown and Company, 1977 , p. 172
Clemants, Steven; Gracie, Carol, Wildflowers in the Field and Forest , Oxford University Press, 2006 , p. 276
9/11/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 9″ (14 × 22 cm)
9/11/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 8″ (14 × 20 cm)
9/4/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)
9/18/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 3 × 4½″ (7.9 × 11 cm)
9/11/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 9″ (14 × 22 cm)
9/11/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 4 × 6″ (10 × 15 cm)
9/4/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm)
9/18/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 3 × 4½″ (7.9 × 11 cm)
Older scientific or horticultural names
Delopyrum articulatum (L.) Small
Polygonum articulatum L.
Polygonella articulata description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 6 Sep 2021.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.
7/29/2023 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Groton, Massachusetts
9/4/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm)
~1 x 0.75" · 7/29/2023 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Groton, Massachusetts
~2 x 2" · 7/29/2023 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Groton, Massachusetts
9/11/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 19 cm)
9/4/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)
9/18/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 3½ × 5″ (9.2 × 13 cm)
~2 x 2" · 7/29/2023 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Groton, Massachusetts
9/11/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 8″ (12 × 19 cm)
9/11/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 8″ (14 × 20 cm)
9/4/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)
Range:
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