Family: Polygonaceae
High Risk Traits:
- Elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
- Thrives in tropical climates
- Widely naturalized
- Garden and crop weed
- Potential environmental weed
- Other Persicaria species are invasive
- Potentially allelopathic
- Alternate host of pathogens
- Shade-tolerant
- Tolerates many soil types
- Forms dense mats
- Ligneous root
- Reproduces by seeds and vegetatively by rooting from nodes
- Can reach maturity in under 1 growing season
- Seeds dispersed by water, in soil and as garden waste, and intentionally by people
- Seeds can also be dispersed by birds
- Resprouts after fire and from rootstock
Low Risk Traits:
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
- Palatable to animals
- Ornamental
- Herbicides can provide effective control
