Practical
Plants

Polygonum pensylvanicum

Pennsylvania Smartweed

an annual member of the Polygonum genus in the family Polygonaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual
Height
0.7 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An infusion of the plant tops has been used in the treatment of epilepsy[2]. An infusion of the leaves has been used to treat haemorrhages of blood from the mouth and to aid postpartum healing[2]. The leaves have been used as a wipe on the anus in treating bloody piles[2].

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - Nova Scotia to Ontario, Minnesota, Florida and Texas.
Habitat
Waste ground in moist soils[1].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

207058 222160

References

  1. Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. 1970-00-00 ISBN 0-486-22642-5

    ↩

  2. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm

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