Seasonal Wild Flowers

Latin name

Persicaria minor

Other names

Least Water-pepper

Family

Polygonaceae

Flowering season

June to September

English distribution

It is patchily scattered throughout the country and is most

common in parts of Hampshire and the Northwest

See the BSBI distribution map for Small Water-pepper

Habitat

It grows in nutrient-rich mud, especially where ponds and

ditches dry out in the summer.

It also grows in damp pasture and can withstand trampling

by cattle.

Description

Small Water-pepper is a native, annual, branched,

spreading herb, growing up to 40cm.

The small flowers are pink and separated up the stem.

The ochreae (sheathing scales) are coarsely fringed.

Leaves are up to 5cm long and lanceolate.

Small Water-pepper is not acrid to taste.