Polygonum polygamum
| Polygonum polygamum | |
|---|---|
| |
| Synonym Polygonella polygama shown, Photo by Karan A. Rawlins, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants |
| Class: | Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Polygonaceae |
| Genus: | Polygonella |
| Species: | P. polygamum |
| Binomial name | |
| Polygonum polygamum (Vent.) Engelm. & A. Gray | |
| |
| Natural range of Polygonum polygamum from USDA NRCS Plants Database. | |
Common name: October flower
Contents
Taxonomic notes
Synonyms: Polygonella polygama; Polygonum polygamum Ventenat var. polygamum; Polygonella polygama (Ventenat) Engelmann & A. Gray var. polygama
There are three geographically distinct varieties: var. brachystachya is only found in southern and south-central Florida and appears to be the most unique of the three varieties; var. cromii occurs primarily in North and South Carolina; var. polygama is widely distributed and appears to be sympatric with var. croomii.[1]
Description
A description of Polygonum polygamum is provided in The Flora of North America.
Distribution
P. polygamum is distributed throughout the Coastal Plain, from southeast Virginia to south-central Florida, west to Texas.[2]
Ecology
Habitat
In the Coastal Plain in Florida, P. polygamum can occur in seasonally wet depressions with Hypericum tenuifolium and Paronychia chartacea; and in xeric oak/saw palmetto scrubs. In disturbed areas it can be found in roadside ditches, clear-cut slash pine forests,wooded beach dunes; and dry sandy spoil material that has been pumped from the river during dredging operations.[3][4] Associated species include Liatris laevigata, Hypericum tenuifolim, Paronychia chartacea and Palafoxia integrifolia. Soil types include white sand and loamy sand.[3]
Phenology
Flowers in September and October[3] seed mature in winter.[5]
Seed dispersal
According to Kay Kirkman, a plant ecologist, this species disperses by gravity. [6]
Seed bank and germination
Physical dormancy does not typically occur, however, some seeds possess a non-deep physiological dormancy[7].
Pollination
The following Hymenoptera families and species were observed visiting flowers of Polygonum polygamum at Archbold Biological Station: [8]
Colletidae: Colletes mandibularis
Halictidae: Augochlorella aurata, Augochloropsis anonyma, A. metallica, Halictus poeyi, Lasioglossum nymphalis, L. placidensis, Sphecodes heraclei
Leucospididae: Leucospis slossonae
Pompilidae: Anoplius marginalis, Episyron conterminus posterus
Sphecidae: Gorytes deceptor, Oxybelus decorosum, Tachytes distinctus, T. validus
Vespidae: Eumenes smithii, Leptochilus republicanus, Pachodynerus erynnis
Conservation and management
Cultivation and restoration
Photo Gallery
Flowers of Polygonella polygama Photo by Karan A. Rawlins, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
References and notes
- ↑ Nesom, G. L. and V. M. Bates (1984). "Reevaluations of Infraspecific Taxonomy in Polygonella (Polygonaceae)." Brittonia 36(1): 37-44
- ↑ [[1]] Encyclopedia of Life. Accessed: February 22, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Florida State University Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium database. URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: October 2015. Collectors: Loran Anderson, Wilson Baker, Angus Ghloson Jr., Robert K. Godfrey, Ann Johnson, Robert L. Lazor, Cecil R. Slaughter. States and Counties: Florida: Bay, Franklin, Holmes, Osceola. Compiled by Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy.
- ↑ Looney, P. B. and D. J. Gibson (1995). "The Relationship between the Soil Seed Bank and Above-Ground Vegetation of a Coastal Barrier Island." Journal of Vegetation Science 6(6): 825-836
- ↑ [[2]]Accessed: February 22, 2016
- ↑ Kay Kirkman, unpublished data, 2015.
- ↑ Heather, A. E., H. E. Perez, et al. (2010). "Non-deep physiological dormancy in seeds of two Polygonella species with horticultural potential." HortScience 45(12): 1854-1858
- ↑ Deyrup, M.A. and N.D. 2015. Database of observations of Hymenoptera visitations to flowers of plants on Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA.
