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Weed Description: A branched annual with arrow-shaped leaves and stems with many prickles that are turned backward. Tearthumb primarily occurs as an aquatic weeds of shorelines, marshes, and swamps. |
Tearthumb: Polygonum arifolium
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Weed Description: A branched annual with arrow-shaped leaves and stems with many prickles that are turned backward. Tearthumb primarily occurs as an aquatic weeds of shorelines, marshes, and swamps. |
| Leaves: Leaves are arrow-shaped, but with the basal lobes pointing outward (hastate). Leaves are hairy, approximately 4 to 4 1/2 inches long, and occur on petioles that range from 1 1/4 to 4 1/2 inches in length. |  |
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Stems: Branching, with many
prickles turned oppositely (retrorsely barbed) from the direction of the stem. Flowers: Occur in terminal spikes at the ends of branches with each spike containing 2 to 4 flowers. Flowers are white to pink in color and occur on the ends of leafless flower stalks (peduncles). |
| Fruit: A reddish brown,
globular nutlet. Identifying Characteristics: The arrow-shaped leaves with bases that point outward and prickly stems help to distinguish tearthumb from most other aquatic shoreline weeds. However, Arrow-leaved Tearthumb (Polygonum sagittatum) is very similar in appearance and growth habit but has much smaller, hairless leaves with lobes that encircle the stem unlike those of tearthumb. |
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