Historical Common Names of Great Plains Plants:

Polygonum persicaria L.

Origin: probably introduced

Scientific Synonyms: Persicaria maculata (Raf.) S.F. Gray, Persicaria maculosa (Schrank) Bickn., Persicaria persicaria (L.) Small., Persicaria ruderalis (Salisb.) C.F. Reed, Persicaria ruderalis (Salisb.) C.F. Reed var. vulgaris (Webb & Moq.) C.F. Reed, Persicaria vulgaris Webb & Moq., Polygonum dubium Stein, Polygonum fusiforme Greene, Polygonum minus auct. non Huds., Polygonum minus Huds. var. subcontinuum (Meisn.) Fern., Polygonum persicaria L. var. angustifolium Beckh., Polygonum persicaria L. var. ruderale (Salisb.) Meisn., Polygonum puritanorum Fern.

Common names:

Arsmart (1671-1828, deliberately introduced by colonists by 1671, Josselyn) (7, 46)

Black-heart [Black heart] (1894-1923, from the shape of dark spots on the leaves) (5, 75, 77, 156, 158)

Common persicary (1913) (5)

Crab's-claw (1900) (158)

Curage (1828, French. Louisiana Purchase) (7)

Doorweed [Door weed] (1876) (92)

Heart's-ear (1900) (158)

Heart's-ease [Heart's ease, Heartsease] (1840-1930, from shape of dark spots on leaves, misapplied) (5, 19, 75, 79, 92, 106, 156, 158)

Heart-spot knotweed (1840) (19)

Heartweed [Heart weed, Heart-weed] (1893-1923, from the shape of dark spots on the leaves) (5, 62,75, 77, 156, 158)

Lady's-thumb [Lady's thumb, Ladies' thumb] (1840-1937) (3, 4, 5, 19, 45, 62, 72, 80, 82, 92, 93, 97, 106, 114, 122, 124, 125, 131, 145, 156)

Lover's-pride [Lover's pride] (1900-1923) (5, 156, 158)

Peachwort [Peach-wort] (1876?-1923) (5, 92, 156, 158)

Persicaria (1900) (158)

Persicary (1900) (158)

Pinkweed [Pink weed, Pink-weed] (1876?-1923) (5, 92, 156, 158)

Plumbago (1900, misapplied) (158)

Red-shanks [Red-shank, Red shanks] (1876?-1923) (5, 92, 156, 158)

Redweed [Red weed, Red-weed] (1900-1923) (5, 156, 158)

Smartweed (1828-1928) (7, 40)

Spotted knotweed [Spotted knot weed, Spotted knot-weed] (1876?-1923) (5, 92, 156, 158)

Spotted lady's-thumb [Spotted ladysthumb] (1942-Present) (50, 155)

Spotted smartweed (1912, IN) (62)

Water-pepper [Water pepper] (1828) (7)

Willow-weed [Willow weed] (1900-1923) (5, 156, 158)