Question: I live in a gated CCRC east across the Rivana from Charlottesville, VA I believe must be a Spiranthes species …
-
Question
I live in a gated CCRC east across the Rivana from Charlottesville, VA I believe must be a Spiranthes species but the leaves are large and the flowers small, simple, and sparse on the stem for this genus. The VA_PlantAtlas suggests these 4 species in Albemarle Co, Spiranthes cernua, Spiranthes lacera var. gracilis, Spiranthes tuberosa, and Spiranthes vernalis. Thanks, baumgrenze
Answer
Dear baumgrenze, you have photographed Persicaria virginiana (jumpseed), a native smartweed in the knotweed family. This is a forest species with small, white, remote flowers that will be tipped by a two styles that curve backward (which allows the fruit to attach to people and animals). Best wishes.
