blackheart

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• blackheart
• heart's-ease
• heartweed
• lady's-thumb
• redshank
• spotted lady's-thumb
• Redleg
• Jesusplant
• lady’s-thumb
• Lady's Thumb
• Willow weed
• ladysthumb
• ladysthumb smartweed
• spotted lady's thumb

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Polygonum persicaria
• Polygonum lapathifolium subsp. maculosum
• Peutalis persicaria

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Caryophyllales. Finally, it is a member of the family Polygonaceae and falls under the genus Persicaria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a notable presence across several regions within Northern Europe. Specifically, it can be found growing in the landscapes of Denmark and Finland. Its distribution also extends to the island of Iceland and the Faroe Islands. Furthermore, the species is well-established within the territory of Great Britain. Together, these locations highlight the plant's specific range across these northern territories.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Persicaria maculosa is characterized by its adaptability to diverse environments, ranging from anthropized areas (Área Antrópica) to more complex natural ecosystems such as Ombrophilous Forests (Floresta Ombrófila), including both Pluvial and Mixed varieties, as well as aquatic vegetation. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, occupying habitats from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1800 m AMSL, with an average elevation of approximately 545 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

545 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial), Floresta Ombrófila Mista, Vegetação Aquática

Life history

The life history of Persicaria maculosa is characterized by its classification as an annual plant, meaning it completes its entire biological cycle—from germination to seed production—within a single growing season. As a therophyte, it survives unfavorable periods through the production of resilient seeds rather than maintaining permanent vegetative structures above ground. This life form is inherently deciduous, as the plant withers and dies back completely once its reproductive phase is concluded and the seasonal conditions shift. This rapid life cycle allows the species to effectively colonize disturbed habitats and ephemeral environments before the onset of dormancy in its seed state.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Persicaria maculosa is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. This species is a terrestrial, independent plant that does not function as an epiphyte or a parasite. It exhibits a self-supporting climbing habit, though it is specifically classified as self-supporting rather than a liana or vine. The shoot orientation is ascending, and the plant typically reaches a height ranging from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 1 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.64 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.644333333333333 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Persicaria maculosa is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a metabolic process optimized for temperate environments where carbon fixation occurs primarily through the Calvin cycle. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies entirely on autotrophic nutrition, utilizing its foliage to capture light energy and atmospheric carbon dioxide. The plant's leaf morphology is elliptic in form, exhibiting significant variability in dimensions; the leaf length typically averages 9.5 cm (ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 15 cm), while the width fluctuates between 0.8 cm and 3 cm, resulting in a mean leaf width of 2.6 cm. These morphological traits contribute to a mean leaf size of 23.475 cm². Furthermore, the plant exhibits a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 257.29 cm²/g, a physiological metric that reflects its leaf thickness and resource allocation strategies regarding light interception and gas exchange efficiency.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf length mean:

9.5 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf size mean:

23.475 cm²

Leaf width max:

3 cm

Leaf width mean:

2.6 cm

Leaf width min:

0.8 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

257.29 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Persicaria maculosa is primarily sexual, characterized by bisexual flowers that facilitate a reproductive cycle through biotic pollination. The flowering period typically commences in June and continues through October, featuring pink-colored flowers arranged in paniculate inflorescences that range in length from 0.02 m to 0.06 m. Individual flowers are relatively small, measuring between 0.2 cm and 0.3 cm in length. The pollination syndrome is insect-mediated, and the plant is capable of self-fertilization. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces dry, indehiscent fruits known as achenes, which are black in color and measure between 0.2 cm and 0.25 cm in length, with a mean length of 0.2125 cm. Each fruit can be highly prolific, containing between 101 and 1000 seeds. The resulting seeds are uniform in length at approximately 2.3 mm, with a mean volume of 2.25 mm³ (ranging from 2 to 2.5 mm³) and a mean mass of approximately 0.00184 g (ranging from 0.00105 g to 0.0033 g). Dispersal of these seeds is achieved through both hydrochorous (water) and epizoochorous (attachment to animals) syndromes, ensuring the spread of the species across its habitat. No asexual reproduction was noted for this species.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

epizoochorous

Flower colour :

pink

Flower length max:

0.3 cm

Flower length min:

0.2 cm

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Oct

Fruit colour :

black

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

0.25 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.2125 cm

Fruit length min:

0.2 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Inflorescence :

panicle

Inflorescence length max:

0.06 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.02 m

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

2.3 mm

Seed mass max:

0.0033 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00183996875 g

Seed mass min:

0.00105 g

Seed volume max:

2.5 mm³

Seed volume mean:

2.25 mm³

Seed volume min:

2 mm³

Seeds_per_fruit :

101-1000

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Persicaria maculosa has 13 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 1,7-Diphenylhept-4-en-3-one, 2'-Hydroxy-3',4',6'-trimethoxychalcone, 3-O-Methylgalangin, 5-hydroxy-7,8-dimethoxyflavanone, 6-Hydroxy-5,7-dimethoxyflavanone.

1,7-Diphenylhept-4-en-3-one

1. Fitoterapia

2'-Hydroxy-3',4',6'-trimethoxychalcone

1. Fitoterapia

3-O-Methylgalangin

1. Fitoterapia

5-hydroxy-7,8-dimethoxyflavanone

1. Fitoterapia

6-Hydroxy-5,7-dimethoxyflavanone

1. Fitoterapia

Dihydroyashabushiketol

1. Fitoterapia

Onysilin

1. Fitoterapia

PASHANONE

1. Fitoterapia

Persilben

1. Fitoterapia

Pinostrobin

1. Fitoterapia

Conditions

Persicaria maculosa has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Pseudomonas infections.

Pseudomonas infections

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Persicaria maculosa has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include chloroform extract, ethanol extracts.

Chloroform extract

1. Planta medica

Ethanol extracts

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)