Nepal smartweed

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Nepal smartweed
• Nepalese knotweed
• Nepalese smartweed
• Nepal Persicaria
• Nepal knotweed

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Persicaria nepalensis var. kumaona
• Polygonum nepalense var. kumaonum
• Polygonum nepalense
• Polygonum nepalense var. adenothrix
• Cephalophilon nepalense
• Persicaria alata var. violascens
• Polygonum punctatum var. alatum
• Persicaria perforata
• Persicaria alata
• Polygonum alatum var. nepalense
• Polygonum perforatum var. laevigatum
• Persicaria lyrata
• Polygonum alatum var. tenuicaule
• Polygonum alatum var. metzianum
• Polygonum perforatum
• Polygonum alatum var. parviflorum
• Polygonum lyratum
• Polygonum alatum var. arenarium
• Polygonum guttuliferum
• Polygonum alatum var. rigidulum
• Polygonum kumaonum
• Polygonum alatum var. adenothrix
• Polygonum metzianum
• Persicaria nepalensis f. adenothrix
• Truellum nepalense

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. Following its placement in the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Caryophyllales, it is a member of the family Polygonaceae. Ultimately, its scientific identity is defined by its genus, Persicaria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence can be observed within the borders of Great Britain. Moving into Middle Europe, the species is found in Belgium, Germany, and Poland. Additionally, its range extends into Southeastern Europe, specifically within Italy. These locations highlight the varying habitats where this medicinal species thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Persicaria nepalesis is characterized by its ability to thrive across a broad altitudinal gradient, ranging from low-lying areas at 200 m AMSL to high-altitude environments reaching a maximum of 4000 m AMSL. It maintains a mean elevational presence around 2100 m AMSL, suggesting a preference for mid-altitude zones within its mountainous distribution. Regarding its preferred substrate and environment, the plant is typically found inhabiting forest ecosystems and can also be found growing in sandy soil conditions, reflecting a versatile adaptability to varying moisture levels and forest floor compositions.

Elevational range max:

4000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2100 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

200 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, sand

Life history

The life history of Persicaria nepalenis is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning it completes its entire developmental process from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, it exists primarily in a seed state during unfavorable environmental conditions, emerging as a fast-growing plant only when seasonal conditions are optimal for growth. This life form strategy allows the species to rapidly exploit available resources and complete its reproductive cycle before the onset of dormant periods, ensuring survival through the dispersal of resilient seeds.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Persicaria nepalenis is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber or a liana, maintaining an independent lifestyle without being a parasite. As a terrestrial species, it is neither aquatic nor an epiphyte. In terms of physical dimensions, the plant typically exhibits a modest stature, with a plant height ranging from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 0.5 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 0.3 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.3 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiological structure of the foliage in Persicaria nepalesis is characterized by distinct morphological variations in leaf dimensions that support its vegetative growth. The leaves exhibit a measurable range in longitudinal development, with a minimum length of 3 cm, a mean length of 4 cm, and reaching a maximum length of 5 cm. Complementing this longitudinal growth is a transverse expansion that varies in width, ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum width of 4 cm. These specific dimensional parameters reflect the plant's capacity for surface area optimization, which is critical for its photosynthetic efficiency and metabolic processes.

Leaf length max:

5 cm

Leaf length mean:

4 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf width max:

4 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Persicaria nepalensis is characterized by a specific phenological window and distinct morphological traits of its progeny. The flowering period typically commences in April and concludes in July, though the timing can be variable throughout the year. Following pollination, the plant produces small fruits that exhibit a mean length of 0.225 cm, ranging from a minimum of 0.2 cm to a maximum of 0.25 cm. The resulting seeds are extremely lightweight, with a mean mass of 0.001145 g, falling within a narrow range between a minimum of 0.00114 g and a maximum of 0.00115 g. Regarding its dispersal strategy, the species utilizes an unspecialized dispersal syndrome, which encompasses various mechanisms such as anemochory, zoochory, autochory, and hydrochory to facilitate the spread of its seeds.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit length max:

0.25 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.225 cm

Fruit length min:

0.2 cm

Seed mass max:

0.00115 g

Seed mass mean:

0.001145 g

Seed mass min:

0.00114 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Persicaria nepalensis has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, stem.

Leaf

1. Planta medica

Stem

1. Planta medica

Chemicals

Persicaria nepalensis has 23 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, protocatechuic acid, quercetin, (-)-Isolariciresinol-2a-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside, BETA-SITOSTEROL.

Flavonoids

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Planta medica

protocatechuic acid

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

quercetin

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

(-)-Isolariciresinol-2a-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Ellagitannin

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Gallic acid

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

LEVOFLOXACIN

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Nimbecetin

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Phenols

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Persicaria nepalensis has 7 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antioxidant, Analgesic, Antimicrobial, Diuretic.

Anticancer

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Antioxidant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Chinese medicine

Analgesic

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antimicrobial

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Diuretic

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Hepatoprotective

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Hypothermic

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations