Small Knotweed - native (Polygonum plebeium)

Family: Polygonaceae (Polygonum and dock family).

Native of eastern Australia.

Occurrence: It is a plant of drying lake-beds and damp areas. It is uncommon in the central goldfields. It is more abundant to the north e.g. along the Murray River.

Identification:

• it is a branched, prostrate plant
it spreads to about a 50 cm diameter, and the stems are often reddish
• the lateral veins (i.e. the veins from the midrib) are not visible on the undersurface of the leaf
• the edges are usually curved downwards.

Similar Species: The introduced Wireweed (*Polygonum aviculare) is also a prostrate plant with wiry stems which can grow in hard, dry conditions, its lateral veins are visible on the undersurface of the leaves, and the leaves are not curled backwards.

Photos 1: Small Knotweed. Maldon. The plant usually has a number of branches radiating from the central root.
2, 3: Moolort Plains.