Fauna
Flower · GBIF taxon 2889198

Pinkweed

Persicaria pensylvanica

Also known as Pennsylvania Smartweed, Common Smartweed, Pennsylvania Knotweed

Pennsylvania smartweed brightens damp fields and riverbanks with dense, cylindrical clusters of rosy pink blossoms from midsummer into autumn. Its smooth, jointed stems feature swollen nodes wrapped in papery sheaths called ocreae, an unmistakable signature of the buckwheat family. The abundant seeds produced by these adaptable annuals serve as a vital late-season food source for migrating waterfowl and songbirds.

AnnualPink FlowersWetland
Pinkweed reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Autotrophic
Predators
  • Waterfowl
  • Songbirds
  • Herbivorous Insects
ThreatsAgricultural herbicide spraying, drainage of wetland habitat
HabitatsWetlands, damp meadows, riverbanks, ditches, disturbed soils
Life spanAnnual
Classification
  1. OrderCaryophyllales
  2. FamilyPolygonaceae
  3. GenusPersicaria
  4. SpeciesPersicaria pensylvanica
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Location: Look for bright pink spikes along muddy pond edges, roadside ditches, and damp soil.
  • Identification: Check the stem joints for smooth papery sheaths lacking long fringe hairs.
  • Wildlife Watching: Observe late in summer when seed-hungry birds flock to the dense flower heads.
Related species
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