User:Plantsrock2021/Polygonum patulum

Polygonum patulum, commonly known as the Tree Hogweed and Bellard's Smartweed, is a herbaceous plant within the Knotweed family. In total, there are five synonyms for this plant, two of which are Polygonum bellardii and Polygonum gracilius. It is native to Eurasia and Africa and has plant specimens in Afghanistan, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, and the western United States.

Description
Polygonum patulums are short, branch stem annuals ranging from 20-80 cm in height. The plant structure consists of an ochrea, often found in the Polygonaceae family. It is tubular and small, ranging from 7-8 mm. Furthermore, the ochrea is fibrous at the tip. The plant's color is green or blue-green and heterophyllous, which means there are different types of leaves on the plant. The leaves are simple and broad. Within the leaf structure, the blade located above the petiole is a green or blue-green color. It is lanceolate, meaning that the leaf is long and the widest point is below the middle with an acute apex. The leaves are typically 4 cm long to 8 mm wide. The petiole is short and nearly absent, ranging from 0.21-1 mm.

The inflorescence, otherwise referred to as the flower arrangement in relation to each other, is terminal and axillary. Flowers are formed at the tip of the growing axis while others are formed on branches. The pedicle, known as the stalk of an individual flower, is considered slender and ranges between 1.5-2 mm long. Flowers of the plant are small, often closed or semi-closed. The sepals are usually green with a pink margin and have a height of 2.5-3.0 mm. This plant is a Petaloid in which petals are absent and has branched veins. There are typically eight stamens, three short styles, capitate stigmas, and dilated filaments present. Late-season achenes are usually not common. Achenes are brown, trigonous, and 2-3 mm long. The plant typically flowers between July to October.

Taxonomy
Polygonum patulum was first published in 1808 by Marschall von Bieberstein and Friedrich August. Their written work was titled Flora Taurico-Caucasica. The plant falls under the Polygonum L. genus and the Polygonaceae Juss family. Polygonum mainly consists of smartweed species and knotweed. In total, there are 43 species and 20 subspecies within this genus. The Polygonaceae family includes knotweed, renouées, buckwheat. It is mainly found in the United States and contains 39 genus, 507 species, and 21 subspecies. Polygonum patulum is a part of the Caryophyllales order, Magnoliopsida class, and the Plantae kingdom. The division and subdivision are Tracheophyta and Spermatophytina, indicating that Polygonum patulum is a vascular seed plant. Furthermore, other synonyms for this plant include Polygonum kotovii, Polygonum patulum, and Polygonum salinum.

Distribution & Habitat
The plant is terrestrial and is primarily distributed in Asia and North America. Within the United States, Polygonum patulum is located in California, Alabama, Illinois, and Washington. The specimen count is low in these areas because they are rarely adventive, meaning that the plant has not been frequently introduced within the United States. On a national level, the Polygonum patulum is considered a wetland plant. Its habitat includes ditches and saline marshes. Yet, there are plant specimens that have been found in plains among rock crevices and stones. In general, Polygonum patulums prefer disturbed soil.

Uses (Culture)
The Polygonum genus is well known for its medicinal uses. Since most plant specimens are located in Asia, species within Polygonum have been utilized in folk traditional Chinese medicine. The most common medicinal use has been to treat internal and external gynecological diseases along with utilizing the species for pharmaceutical activities. Out of the species within the genus, Polygonum patulum has been one of the least used. Yet, there has been a few scientific studies using this specific plant. For instance, under the synonym Polygonum Bellardii, the chemical composition of the plant was investigated in 2013 to determine if anti-inflammatory properties were present. The results of this research study supported the traditional use of the plant for inflammatory disorders, emphasizing its overall medicinal benefit.