Polygonum aviculare

4. Polygonum aviculare L. (subcosm.) – A very common and exceedingly variable native species. A rather distinct, possibly non-native subspecies has been recorded several times but is poorly known: subsp. rurivagum (Jord. ex Boreau) Berher (syn.: P. rurivagum Jord. ex Boreau). It is distinguished from the native subspecies in having almost linear leaves not wider than 4 mm and basally reddish-brown ochreas that are 7-10 mm long. It is often said to be erect or suberect in habit (Stace 2010, …) but it may well be procumbent (see also Karlsson 2000). Its native distribution range includes parts of western and central Europe and it might as well be native in Belgium.

Up to present, subsp. rurivagum is predominantly found in man-made habitats (most often near grain mills in port areas) which pleads for a non-native status. In 2010 it was observed in relative abundance in nature reserve Fluithoekduinen in Koksijde (bare, sandy area, after removal of topsoil).


Selected literature:

Gohimont A.-M., Gohimont A. & Lambinon J. (1993) Polygonum aviculare subsp. rurivagum à Berdorf (Grand-Duché de Luxembourg). Nat. Mosana 46(1): 33-34.

Karlsson T. (2000) Polygonaceae. In: Jonsell B. (ed.), Flora Nordica, vol. 1. The Bergius Foundation, Stockholm: 235-318.

Meerts P., Briane J.-P. & Lefèbvre C. (1990) A numerical taxonomic study of the Polygonum aviculare complex (Polygonaceae) in Belgium. Pl. Syst. Evol. 173: 71-89.

Robbrecht E. & Jongepier J.-W. (1989) De synantrope flora van het havengebied van Gent (België, Oost-Vlaanderen), waarnemingen van 1986 tot 1988. Dumortiera 44: 1-12.

Schmid K. (1983) Untersuchungen an Polygonum aviculare s.l. in Bayern. Mitt. Bot. Staatssamml. München 19: 29-149.

Scholz H. (1959) Die Systematik des europäischen Polygonum aviculare s.l. II. Ber. Deutsch. Bot. Ges. 72: 63-72.

Stace C. (2010) New flora of the British Isles, 3th ed.: XXXII + 1232 p. Cambridge
University Press.

Styles B.T. (1962) The taxonomy of Polygonum aviculare and its allies in Britain. Watsonia 5: 177-214.

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith