User:Erika.smith16/Persicaria cespitosa

Persicaria cespitosa
Persicaria cespitosa, also known as tufted knotweed, is generally grown in Asian countries in the summer. It is native to eastern Asia but grown in China, Southeast Asia, Japan, and now North America since the 20th century. The other synonyms of Persicaria cespitosa are Persicaria posumbu and Polygonum cespitosum. It is an annual herbaceous plant that belongs to the family Polygonaceae, which is a family of flowering knotweeds.

Description
Persicaria cespitosa is an invasive species that averages about 3.5 feet tall. They have a red color stem with pink to red color flowers. The flowers are displayed in clusters with terminal spikes. It has a fibrous root and bears the fruit black achene. It has lanceolate-shaped leaves with an alternate arrangement of leaves and most of them having a purple spot in the middle.

Taxonomy
It is an angiosperm part of the persicaria genus and the Polygonaceae family. Persicaria cespitosa is a part of the Caryophyllales order, Magnoliopsida class, Spermatophyta phylum, and the Plantae kingdom.

Distribution & Habitat
It can be found in various states. It's found in Massachusetts, Illinois, Florida, and Louisiana. It grows in low-light wetlands and deciduous forests. Due to its invasive nature, it has now been found in drier areas.

Uses
Persicaria cespitosa can be mildly toxic but acts as food for some animals.