Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness

Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department of Natural Sciences

Polygonum sawatchense Small
(Sawatch Knotweed)

Family: Polygonaceae

Status: Native

Synonyms:
Polygonum douglasii Greene subsp. johnstonii (Munz) Hickman
Polygonum douglasii Greene var. johnstonii Munz

Polygonum sawatchense is a middle elevation herb with upright stems. The stems are four angled. The small flowers are axillary (usually one or two per leaf axil) and have greenish white tepals with rounded apices. The upper leaves are more linear than the oblanceolate lower ones. Polygonum erectum is a similar species with stems that have 8 to 16 ribs.
Please click on an image for a larger file.



Polygonum sawatchense, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Aspen Grove, August 15, 2010



Polygonum sawatchense, 1x macro of flower, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Aspen Grove, August 15, 2010



Polygonum sawatchense, closeup of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Aspen Grove, August 15, 2010



Polygonum sawatchense, 5x macro of 4 angled stem (crush artifact at one corner, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Aspen Grove, August 15, 2010


Back to the Index