Weed Herbarium

Bishkatali

Common Name: Marshpepper knotweed
Scientific Name: Polygonum hydropiper L.
Family Name: Polygonaceae
Type: Broadleaf

Identification Notes

EPPO Code

POLHY

Life Cycle

Annual

Morphology

Stem: erect or ascending branched, hirsute with spreading hairs and glands. Leaves: lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, shortly petiolated, acuminate, strigose, stipules short, hirsute. Inflorescence: racemes, erect; flower red in colour. Fruit: a nut

Growing season

Rabi

Germination period

October to January

Flowering period

November to March

Propagation

By seed

Habitat

Found in the leaves of winter crops specially that of boro rice, homesteads, roadsides and fallow lands.

Weed potential

Commonly found in irrigated crops, vegetables, pastures and gardens, as well as wasteland and roadsides. It is especially common and pervasive where the soil is damp or waterlogged.

Control measure

Manual weeding and/or Chemical weed control

Recommended herbicide

Glyphosate, 2,4-D etc.

Distribution

Wetlands of temperate Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America

Medicinal properties

Traditionally used for treating bleeding, skin problems, diarrhoea, piles, menstrual pains etc. The leaves are anti-inflammatory, astringent, carminative, diaphoretic, diuretic, emmenagogue, stimulant, stomachic, styptic. They contain rutin, which helps strengthen fragile capillaries and thus helps prevent bleeding.

Department of Agronomy

Bangladesh Agricultural University