Polygonum chaturbhujanum - Tiny-Flower Knotweed

Tiny-Flower Knotweed is a newly described (2024) prostrate herb with perennial root stock. Flowers are borne in spikes at tips of branches, becoming condensed, 1.2-3.5 x 0.3- 0.4 cm, densely flowered. Flowers are solitary, pink or pale pink, partly sunken in ochreolae, 2.1-2.3 x 1.8-1.9 mm. Floral bracts are smaller than stem leaves, variable in size, ovate to round or inverted-lanceshaped or obovate, 2.0-2.8 x 0.9-1.2 mm, 3-nerved, mid-nerve distinct, lateral ones inprominent and margin entire, thickened, reddish. Flowers pale pink to pink, eventually turning white, 5-lobed, spirally arranged, virtually stalkless. Tepals are divided up to below 1/3 of total length, almost equal, fused at base, becoming hard in fruit; outer two tepals pale green, oblong, 1.9-2.2 x 0.9-1.0 mm, notched at tip, 1-nerved, with sharp point. Inner 3 tepals pink, oblong, 2 x 1 mm, blunt with a sharp point. Stamens are 6-8, about half a millimeter. Stems are hairless, striped, much branched at base, branches numerous and adpressed to substrate, 5-45 cm long; internodes 3.5-4.0 mm long, hairless. Leaves are alternate, 5-7 x 1.8-2.1 mm, oblong, thick, 3-nerved from base, stalkless, falling off, blunt at base, pointed or apiculate at tip, margin entire, thickened, dark brown when aging.Tiny-Flower Knotweed is found in wet areas in Western India. Flowering: March-June.