Persicaria capitata

Taxonavigation

Taxonavigation: Caryophyllales
Classification System: APG IV Superregnum: Eukaryota Cladus: Diaphoretickes Cladus: CAM Cladus: Archaeplastida Regnum: Plantae Cladus: Angiosperms Cladus: Eudicots Cladus: Core eudicots Ordo: Caryophyllales

Familia: Polygonaceae
Subfamilia: Polygonoideae
Tribus: Persicarieae
Subtribus: Persicariinae
Genus: Persicaria
Sectio: Persicaria sect. Cephalophilon
Species: Persicaria capitata

Name

Persicaria capitata (Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don) H.Gross, Bot Jahrb. Syst. 49(2): 277 (1913).

Synonyms

Basionym
- Polygonum capitatum Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don, Prodr. Fl. Nepal.: 73 (1825).
Homotypic
- Cephalophilon capitatum (Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don) Tzvelev, Novosti Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 24: 76 (1987).
- Truellum capitatum (Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don) P.D.Sell, Fl. Gr. Brit. Ireland 1: 687 (2018).
Heterotypic
- Polygonum repens Meisn. in N.Wallich, Pl. Asiat. Rar. 3: 60 (1832).
- Polygonum repens var. pingue Meisn. in N.Wallich, Pl. Asiat. Rar. 3: 60 (1832).
  - Polygonum capitatum var. pingue (Meisn.) Meisn. in A.P.de Candolle, Prodr. 14: 129 (1856).
- Polygonum repens var. macilentum Meisn. in N.Wallich, Pl. Asiat. Rar. 3: 60 (1832).
  - Polygonum capitatum var. macilentum (Meisn.) Meisn. in A.P.de Candolle, Prodr. 14: 130 (1856).
- Polygonum robynsii De Wild., Pl. Bequaert. 5: 261 (1931).

Distribution

Native distribution areas:

Continental: Europe (introduced)
- Regional: Northern Europe
  - Great Britain, Ireland, Sweden.
- Regional: Middle Europe
  - Austria, Czechia-Slovakia, Germany.
- Regional: Southwestern Europe
  - Portugal, Spain.
- Regional: Southeastern Europe
  - Greece, Italy.
Continental: Africa (introduced)
- Regional: Macaronesia
  - Azores, Canary Islands, Madeira.
- Regional: West-Central Tropical Africa
  - DR Congo.
- Regional: South Tropical Africa
  - Angola, Malawi, Zimbabwe.
- Regional: Southern Africa
  - Eswatini, Northern Provinces.
- Regional: Middle Atlantic Ocean
  - St.Helena.
- Regional: Western Indian Ocean
  - Mauritius, Réunion.
Continental: Asia-Temperate
- Regional: China
  - China South-Central, China Southeast, Tibet.
- Regional: Eastern Asia
  - Japan, Korea, Taiwan (introduced).
Continental: Asia-Tropical
- Regional: Indian Subcontinent
  - Assam, Bangladesh, East Himalaya, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Himalaya.
- Regional: Indo-China
  - Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam.
- Regional: Malesia
  - Malaya (introduced).
Continental: Australasia (introduced)
- Regional: Australia
  - New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia.
Continental: Pacific (introduced)
- Regional: Northwestern Pacific
  - Marianas.
- Regional: North-Central Pacific
  - Hawaii.
Continental: Northern America (introduced)
- Regional: Northwestern U.S.A.
  - Oregon.
- Regional: Southwestern U.S.A.
  - California.
- Regional: South-Central U.S.A.
  - Texas.
- Regional: Southeastern U.S.A.
  - Alabama, Louisiana.
- Regional: Mexico
  - Mexico Central.
Continental: Southern America (introduced)
- Regional: Central America
  - Costa Rica, El Salvador.
- Regional: Western South America
  - Colombia.
- Regional: Brazil
  - Brazil West-Central, Brazil Southeast, Brazil South.
- Regional: Southern South America
  - Argentina Northeast.

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2^nd Edition

References

Primary references

Gross, H. 1913. Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Polygonaceen. Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie: 49(2): 233–339. BHL Reference page.

Additional references

Hassler, M. & Muer, T. 2022. Flora Germanica. Alle Farn- und Blütenpflanzen Deutschlands in Text und Bild. 2 vols., 1712 pp., Verlag Regionalkultur, Ubstadt-Weiher. ISBN 978-3-95505-333-8 Reference page.

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2026. Persicaria capitata in Kew Science Plants of the World Online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2026 June 23. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2026. Persicaria capitata. Published online. Accessed: June 23 2026. Reference page.
Tropicos.org 2026. Persicaria capitata. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published online. Accessed: 24 Jun 2026. Reference page.
Hassler, M. 2026. World Plants. Synonymic Checklist and Distribution of the World Flora. . Persicaria capitata. Accessed: 24 Jun 2026. Reference page.

Vernacular names

Deutsch: Knöpfchen-Knöterich
English: pinkhead smartweed
français: renouée capitée
日本語: ヒメツルソバ
中文: 頭花蓼, 石莽草, 头花寥, 头花蓼