Seasonal Wild Flowers

Latin name

Polygonum rurivagum

Family

Polygonaceae

Flowering season

August to November

English distribution

It is found mainly in Norfolk and the South and is thinly

scattered elsewhere.

See the BSBI distribution map for Cornfield Knotgrass

Habitat

It is an archeophyte which grows mainly on lime in arable

fields and on newly bare soils.

Description

Cornfield Knotgrass is an annual, prostrate herb,

growing up to 30cm.

The flowers are in ones or twos and the tepals are

pinkish-red on the outside.

The flowers are white with a central green patch on

the inside.

There are 8 stamens an a three part stigma.

The sheeths below the flowers are reddish-brown

and longer than in other knotgrasses.

The leaves on the flowering stems are narrow and

pointed.

The lower leaves are bigger.

The fruits are small brown nuts which just protrude

from the dead flowers.