Plants→Polygonum→Arrowleaf Tearthumb (Polygonum sagittatum)

Since there is little information on this plant, I'll add what is in the book "How to Know the Wildflowers" (1922) by Mrs William Starr Dana. She gives a full common name of "Arrow-Leaved Tear-Thumb." The stem is four-angled, erect, or somewhat climbing by its prickles. Leaves are arrow-shaped and short-stemmed. Flowers can be white or pale pink and are small and clustered. The calyx is usually five-parted and white or pale pink. There are usually eight stamens and no corolla. There is one pistil with three styles. The fruit is sharply three-angled. The author also states that the plant is rather noticeable, is common in low grounds, and is called "scratch-grass" in some areas.

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This is a widespread and common annual plant native from Newfoundland to southern Manitoba down to Colorado and Texas into Florida, and also native in some spots in Oregon, plus native also to East Asia in moist to wet areas and meadows. It blooms from July into October and seeds ripen in August to October. It is not used in horticulture-gardening-landscaping. It has short smartweed flower clusters of white or pink; leaves that are shaped like a long arrowhead; and the stems are covered with rough, bristly hook-like hairs to help the plant climb upon other plants, thus being very rough to touch, which has something to do with the name of Tearthumb.

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