Citation: L., Sp. Pl. 360 (1753).

Synonymy: P. lanigerum R. Br., Prod. Fl. Nov. Holl. 419 (1810); P. lapathifolium L. var. lanigerum (R. Br.)F. Muell. (ined.?, cf. Jacobs & Pickard (1981) Plants of N.S.W.).

Common name: Pale (or pink) knotweed.

Description:
Tall stout annual to c. 1 m high, branching, with or without a dense soft white tomentum on stem and leaves; leaves lanceolate or broad-lanceolate, petiolate, acuminate, 7-18 X 1.5-3.5 cm, gland-dotted and prominently nerved below, scabrous with appressed hairs on midrib and margins (or white-tomentose); stipular sheaths truncate, ribbed, ciliate or not.

Flowers in dense rather thick spikes 2-7 cm long and longer than their peduncles, forming terminal panicles; perianths pedicels and peduncles more or less glandular; bracts small, truncate; style 2-branched.

Nut compressed, smooth, flat or concave on both faces, the edges obtuse, c. 2 mm long.

Image source: fig. 98c in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).

Published illustration: Cunningham et al. (1982) Plants of western New South Wales, p. 232.

Distribution:    N.T.; Qld; N.S.W.; Vic.; Tas.   New Zealand; Africa. Conservation status: native Flowering time: throughout the year.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Taxonomic notes: Many authors have treated P. lanigerum and P. lapathifolium as separate (e.g. J. Willis (1972) A handbook to plants in Victoria 1), but more recently the two have been combined (e.g. Jacobs and Pickard (1981) Plants of N. S.W.).

Author: Not yet available