Polygonum cilinode

SIMILAR SPECIES: Polygonum cilinode closely resembles the common vining smartweeds P. scandens and P. convolvulus. In P. cilinode the bases of the sheaths (ocreae) are retrorsely barbed whereas in the other two species they are beardless. The achenes of P. cilinode are very glossy black whereas in P. scandens and P. convolvulus the achenes are dull.

TOTAL RANGE: Nfld. to Sask., s. to N.S., N.E., n. NJ, PA, WV, OH, MI, WI, and MN, and in uplands to NC and TN.

STATE RANGE: There are post-1960 records from Portage and Summit counties. A 1932 record exists from Ashtabula County.

STATE STATUS: 1980-1993: Endangered, 1994-1999: Threatened, 2000 to present: Endangered.

HABITAT: Dry woods and thickets, rocky slopes, borders of woods, and roadsides.

HAZARDS: Roadside mowing, clearing of fencerow thickets, and opening of the forest canopy.

RECOVERY POTENTIAL: Unknown, but possibly good. Apparently tolerant of some disturbance.

INVENTORY GUIDELINES: Mature flowering and fruiting material is needed for accurate identification. Avoid overcollecting.

COMMENTS: In dense shade populations are often sterile and nearly impossible to identify.

This plant may be more common than the records indicate and should be sought throughout woodlands in northeastern Ohio.

Fernald (1914) divides this species into two varieties. Under this concept, Ohio plants are the typical variety. The var. laevigatum Fern. is restricted to mountainous areas of Virginia and West Virginia.

SELECTED REFERENCES:

Cooperrider, T.S. 1995. The Dicotyledoneae of Ohio. Part 2. Linaceae through Campanulaceae. Ohio State Univ. Press, Columbus, OH. 656 pp.

Fernald, M.L. 1914. The West Virginia variety of Polygonum cilinode. Rhodora 49: 210-216.

Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Division of Natural Areas and Preserves

Created: 1/1984 Barbara K. Andreas, James F. Burns

Database Code: SPJT.802