Persicaria maculosa in Genus Persicaria

Details Top

Internal ID	UUID64400310d25ba177476597
Scientific name	Persicaria maculosa
Authority	Gray
First published in	Nat. Arr. Brit. Pl. 2: 269 (1821 publ. 1822)

Ethnobotanical Use Top

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Important notice

Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.

Ethnobotanical Uses

Among the Mapuche of southern Chile, a tea of the dried leaves and flowering tops of Persicaria maculosa is taken as a mild astringent for diarrhea and as a gargle for sore throats (Bennett et al., 2021). In many parts of Europe, especially in alpine regions, a hot infusion of the aerial parts is traditionally drunk to relieve cramps, gas, and mild coughs; a poultice of the bruised herb is applied to wounds and inflamed bites (Grieve, 1931). In India, communities of the Punjab have recorded decoctions of the same plant parts for fever, urinary complaints, and diarrhea, with the plant historically classified as a medicinal “Polygonum” in regional pharmacopoeias (Pharmacopoeia of India, 1966). Across these cultures, the preparations follow the same pattern: tea or decoction for internal use, poultice or compress for external application.

One practical recipe is a mild tea: use roughly 1.5 to 2 grams of dried aerial parts per 200 milliliters of freshly boiled water; cover and steep 8 to 12 minutes, then strain. The drink is warm, with a faintly peppery, astringent taste. Avoid using more than the suggested amount or drinking several cups a day. There is no reliable pregnancy‑safety data, so it is best avoided in pregnancy and during breast‑feeding, and it is not recommended for children under 12 years.

The herb’s pharmacology fits its astringent profile. The aerial parts are rich in flavonoids such as quercetin and kaempferol, with minor amounts of other flavonols; they also contain phenolic acids including gallic and caffeic acids and modest levels of tannins, together with the terpenoid polygodial (UCL Natural Chemistry Database; PlantCyc). These constituents have documented anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and mild antispasmodic activity in vitro, supporting the traditional uses against cramps, coughs, and minor infections.

Modern relevance is modest but real. Studies in recent years are revisiting Persicaria species for anti‑inflammatory and wound‑healing potential, while the plant occasionally appears as a “smartweed” component in wildflower mixes; in many regions the tea and poultice still circulate among local communities as a simple, familiar remedy (Phytotherapy Research, 2016).

General Uses Top

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No documented commercial, industrial, craft, culinary, scientific, or regulatory uses specific to Persicaria maculosa are reported in authoritative sources.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name	Authority	First published in
Persicaria dolichopoda	(Ohki) Ohki ex Nakai	Rigakkwai 24: 300 (1926)
Persicaria salicifolia	Gray	Nat. Arr. Brit. Pl. 2: 270 (1821 publ. 1822)
Persicaria mitis	Garsault	Fig. Pl. Med. 3: t. 446. 1764, nom. inval., opus utique oppressum; Descr. Pl. Anim. 265. 1767; Thell. in Bull. Herb. Boiss. Ser. II. viii. 903.
Polygonum persicaria	L.	Sp. Pl. : 361 (1753)
Polygonum dolichopodum	Ohwi	Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 39: 260. 1925
Persicaria maculosa var. argentea	Gray	Nat. Arr. Brit. Pl. 2: 269 1821
Polygonum fusiforme	Greene	Erythea 1: 259 (1893)
Polygonum persicaria var. ruderale	Meisn.	Prodr. [A. P. de Candolle] 14(1): 118. 1856
Polygonum puritanorum	Fernald	Rhodora 21: 141 (1919)
Polygonum ruderale	Salisb.	Prodr. Stirp. Chap. Allerton 259. 1796 [Nov-Dec 1796]
Persicaria fusiformis	(Greene) Greene	Leafl. Bot. Observ. Crit. 1: 24 (1904)

Common names Top

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Language	Common/alternative name
English	red shank
English	redshank
Spanish	polyganum maculata
Spanish	polyganum vulgaris
Spanish	polyganum minus
Spanish	polyganum dubium
Spanish	polyganum ruderalis
ab	Абжьарца
Arabic	إبهام السيدة
Azerbaijani	qırmızıbaş qırxbuğum
azb	قیرمیزیباش قیرخبوغوم
ba	Геморрой үләне
Belarusian	дрост
Belarusian	драсён звычайны
Belarusian	дрочак
Belarusian	дросень
Belarusian	дросен
Belarusian	драсён чырвоны
Belarusian	драсён белы
Belarusian	гусятник дзікі
Belarusian	герчак
Belarusian	гарчак
Catalan	persicària
Czech	rdesno červivec
Welsh	y ganwraidd goesgoch
Danish	fersken-pileurt
German	pfirsichblättriger knöterich
German	flohknöterich
German	floh-knöterich
Basque	astapiper
Persian	پرسیکاریا ماکولسا
Finnish	hanhentatar
French	renouee persicaire
French	renouée persicaire
frr	noopknober
Irish	glúineach dhearg
Croatian	pjegasti dvornik
Upper Sorbian	blečkata wuroć
Hungarian	baracklevelű keserűfű
io	persikario
Icelandic	flóajurt
Italian	poligono persicaria
Japanese	ヨウシュハルタデ
Georgian	ბოსტნის წალიკა
Kazakh	Айланшөп
Lithuanian	dėmėtasis rūgtis
Latvian	blusene
Latvian	blusu sūrene
Macedonian	пиперче
Macedonian	дворски повит
Norwegian Bokmål	hønsegress
Norwegian Bokmål	hønsegras
Dutch	perzikkruid
Norwegian Nynorsk	hønsegras
Polish	rdest plamisty
Russian	Персикария пятнистая
Russian	Горкушник
Russian	Геморройная трава
Russian	Блошная трава
Russian	Горец почечуйный
Russian	Почечуйная трава
Samogitian	diemietas rūgtis
Samogitian	diemietasės rūgtis
Serbo-Croatian	pjegasti dvornik
Slovak	horčiak broskyňolistý
stq	smaatekaan
Swedish	polygonum amphibium
Swedish	Åkerpilört
tg	Буғумак
Ukrainian	сорочі лапки
Ukrainian	Гірчак почечуйний
xmf	სარდაკია
Chinese	春蓼

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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Germination/Propagation Top

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Sow seeds at 20°C, expecting germination within 3 months without further temperature treatment.

Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:

- Doubtful data

- Extinct

- Introduced

- Native

Africa click to expand
- East Tropical Africa
  - Uganda
- Macaronesia
  - Azores
  - Madeira
- Northern Africa
  - Algeria
  - Egypt
  - Morocco
  - Tunisia

Antarctica click to expand
- Subantarctic Islands
  - Falkland Islands

Asia-temperate click to expand
- Arabian Peninsula
  - Saudi Arabia
  - Yemen
- Caucasus
  - North Caucasus
  - Transcaucasus
- China
  - China North-central
  - China South-central
  - China Southeast
  - Inner Mongolia
  - Manchuria
  - Qinghai
  - Xinjiang
- Eastern Asia
  - Japan
  - Korea
- Middle Asia
  - Kazakhstan
  - Kirgizstan
  - Tadzhikistan
  - Turkmenistan
  - Uzbekistan
- Russian Far East
  - Amur
  - Primorye
- Siberia
  - Altay
  - Irkutsk
  - Krasnoyarsk
  - West Siberia
- Western Asia
  - Afghanistan
  - Iran
  - Iraq
  - Lebanon-Syria
  - Turkey

Asia-tropical click to expand
- Indian Subcontinent
  - East Himalaya
  - Nepal
  - Pakistan
  - West Himalaya
- Indo-China
  - Laos
  - Vietnam

Australasia click to expand
- Australia
  - New South Wales
  - Northern Territory
  - Queensland
  - South Australia
  - Tasmania
  - Victoria
  - Western Australia
- New Zealand
  - New Zealand North

Europe click to expand
- Eastern Europe
  - Baltic States
  - Belarus
  - Central European Russia
  - East European Russia
  - Krym
  - North European Russia
  - Northwest European Russia
  - South European Russia
  - Ukraine
- Middle Europe
  - Austria
  - Belgium
  - Czechoslovakia
  - Germany
  - Hungary
  - Netherlands
  - Poland
  - Switzerland
- Northern Europe
  - Denmark
  - Finland
  - Føroyar
  - Great Britain
  - Iceland
  - Ireland
  - Norway
  - Sweden
- Southeastern Europe
  - Albania
  - Bulgaria
  - Greece
  - Italy
  - Kriti
  - Romania
  - Sicilia
  - Turkey-in-Europe
  - Yugoslavia
- Southwestern Europe
  - Baleares
  - Corse
  - France
  - Portugal
  - Sardegna
  - Spain

Northern America click to expand
- Eastern Canada
  - Labrador
  - New Brunswick
  - Newfoundland
  - Nova Scotia
  - Ontario
  - Prince Edward Island
  - Québec
- Mexico
  - Mexico Northwest
- North-central U.S.A.
  - Illinois
  - Iowa
  - Kansas
  - Minnesota
  - Missouri
  - Nebraska
  - North Dakota
  - Oklahoma
  - South Dakota
  - Wisconsin
- Northeastern U.S.A.
  - Connecticut
  - Indiana
  - Maine
  - Massachusetts
  - Michigan
  - New Hampshire
  - New Jersey
  - New York
  - Ohio
  - Pennsylvania
  - Rhode Island
  - Vermont
  - West Virginia
- Northwestern U.S.A.
  - Colorado
  - Idaho
  - Montana
  - Oregon
  - Washington
  - Wyoming
- South-central U.S.A.
  - New Mexico
  - Texas
- Southeastern U.S.A.
  - Alabama
  - Arkansas
  - Delaware
  - District Of Columbia
  - Florida
  - Georgia
  - Kentucky
  - Louisiana
  - Maryland
  - Mississippi
  - North Carolina
  - South Carolina
  - Tennessee
  - Virginia
- Southwestern U.S.A.
  - Arizona
  - California
  - Nevada
  - Utah
- Subarctic America
  - Alaska
  - Greenland
  - Yukon
- Western Canada
  - Alberta
  - British Columbia
  - Manitoba
  - Saskatchewan

Southern America click to expand
- Brazil
  - Brazil South
  - Brazil Southeast
  - Brazil West-central
- Southern South America
  - Argentina Northeast
  - Argentina Northwest
  - Argentina South
  - Chile Central
  - Chile North
  - Chile South
- Western South America
  - Bolivia

Links to other databases Top

Suggest others/fix!

Database	ID/link to page
World Flora Online	wfo-0000488462
Florida Plant Atlas	1992
Flora of Alabama	2932
Canadensys	8149
Tropicos	50002191
INPN	112745
Flora of Italy	376
KEW	urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:695052-1
The Plant List	kew-2572628
Open Tree Of Life	439770
Observations.org	7156
NCBI Taxonomy	457184
NBN Atlas	NBNSYS0000003753
Nature Serve	2.151956
IUCN Red List	175559
IPNI	695052-1
iNaturalist	56166
GBIF	6391194
Freebase	/m/03ps33
WisFlora	12304
EPPO	POLPE
EOL	585367
Calflora (Californian flora)	11011
USDA GRIN	409768
Wikipedia	Persicaria_maculosa

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

Below is displayed the reference genome only!
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.

Accession	Assembly
Accession	Name	Level	Submitter	Released	Coverage	Size
GCA_963922045.1	dcPerMacu1.1	Chromosome	WELLCOME SANGER INSTITUTE	2024-02-09	42	1.40 Gb

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.

Title

Authors

Publication

Released

IDs

Transcriptome-Based Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis Reveals the Photosynthesis Pathway and Hub Genes Involved in Promoting Tiller Growth under Repeated Drought–Rewatering Cycles in Perennial Ryegrass

Ding Y, Zhang X, Li J, Wang R, Chen J, Kong L, Li X, Yang Z, Zhuang L

Plants (Basel)

15-Mar-2024

PMCID:	PMC10976046
doi:	10.3390/plants13060854
PMID:	38592951

Climate and soil factors co-derive the functional traits variations in naturalized downy thorn apple (Datura innoxia Mill.) along the altitudinal gradient in the semi-arid environment

Khan N, Ullah R, Okla MK, Abdel-Maksoud MA, Saleh IA, Abu-Harirah HA, AlRamadneh TN, AbdElgawad H

Heliyon

14-Mar-2024

PMCID:	PMC10957434
doi:	10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27811
PMID:	38524627

A first survey for herbicide resistant weeds across major maize growing areas in the North Island of New Zealand

Ngow Z, James TK, Harvey B, Buddenhagen CE

PLoS One

07-Mar-2024

PMCID:	PMC10919694
doi:	10.1371/journal.pone.0299539
PMID:	38451981

Analysis of winter diet in Guizhou golden monkey (Rhinopithecus brelichi) using DNA metabarcoding data

Zhang X, Zhong H, Ran J, Luo J, Chen M, Li H, Wang Y, Cheng S, Yan Y, Huang X

Ecol Evol

01-Feb-2024

PMCID:	PMC10834204
doi:	10.1002/ece3.10893
PMID:	38314313

Antibiofilm and anti-quorum sensing activity of Psidium guajava L. leaf extract: In vitro and in silico approach

Khan MA, Celik I, Khan HM, Shahid M, Shahzad A, Kumar S, Ahmed B

PLoS One

19-Dec-2023

PMCID:	PMC10729950
doi:	10.1371/journal.pone.0295524
PMID:	38113217

Update of the Xylella spp. host plant database – systematic literature search up to 30 June 2023

Gibin D, Gutierrez Linares A, Fasanelli E, Pasinato L, Delbianco A

EFSA J

15-Dec-2023

PMCID:	PMC10722330
doi:	10.2903/j.efsa.2023.8477
PMID:	38107375

Heritable responses to stress in plants

Kovalchuk I

Quant Plant Biol

07-Dec-2023

PMCID:	PMC10753343
doi:	10.1017/qpb.2023.14
PMID:	38156078

Discovering Potential Compounds for Venous Disease Treatment through Virtual Screening and Network Pharmacology Approach

Barrera-Vázquez OS, Escobar-Ramírez JL, Santiago-Mejía J, Carrasco-Ortega OF, Magos-Guerrero GA

Molecules

05-Dec-2023

PMCID:	PMC10745828
doi:	10.3390/molecules28247937
PMID:	38138427

Insect α-Amylases and Their Application in Pest Management

Wang B, Huang D, Cao C, Gong Y

Molecules

01-Dec-2023

PMCID:	PMC10708458
doi:	10.3390/molecules28237888
PMID:	38067617

Dietary supplementation of Polygonum chinense improves the immunity of Asian seabass, Lates calcarifer (Bloch, 1790) against Vibrio harveyi infection

Rashidah AR, Shariff M, Yusoff FM, Ismail IS

Fish Shellfish Immunol Rep

01-Oct-2023

PMCID:	PMC10563064
doi:	10.1016/j.fsirep.2023.100118
PMID:	37822351

The relative impact of parental and current environment on plant transcriptomes depends on type of stress and genotype

Earley TS, Feiner N, Alvarez MF, Coolon JD, Sultan SE

Proc Biol Sci

27-Sep-2023

PMCID:	PMC10523085
doi:	10.1098/rspb.2023.0824
PMID:	37752834

Exploration of the Wild Edible Plants Used for Basic Health Care by Local People of Bahawalpur and Adjacent Regions, Pakistan

Anwar T, Qureshi H, Naeem H, Shahzadi S, Sehar Z, Hassan R

Foods

25-Sep-2023

PMCID:	PMC10573077
doi:	10.3390/foods12193557
PMID:	37835210

Feed plants, ethnoveterinary medicine, and biocultural values: insights on the Luchuan pig from Hakka communities in China

Liufu Y, Zhou J, Fu Q, Shao M, Xie Y, Luo B

J Ethnobiol Ethnomed

15-Sep-2023

PMCID:	PMC10502998
doi:	10.1186/s13002-023-00613-4
PMID:	37710305

Spatial distribution of the four invasive plants and their impact on natural communities’ dynamics across the arid and semi-arid environments in northwest Pakistan

Khan N, Ullah R, Okla MK, Abdel-Maksoud MA, Saleh IA, Abu-Harirah HA, AlRamadneh TN, AbdElgawad H

Front Plant Sci

25-Aug-2023

PMCID:	PMC10485558
doi:	10.3389/fpls.2023.1207222
PMID:	37692447

Long-Chain Molecules with Agro-Bioactivities and Their Applications

Yin F, Qin Z

Molecules

04-Aug-2023

PMCID:	PMC10421526
doi:	10.3390/molecules28155880
PMID:	37570848

Phytochemical Profile Top

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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.

Name	PubChem ID	Canonical SMILES	MW	Found in	Proof
> Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives
Protocatechuic Acid	72	Click to see	154.12	unknown	https://doi.org/10.5586/ASBP.2000.003
> Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives / Gallic acid and derivatives / Gallic acids
Gallic Acid	370	Click to see	170.12	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1248/YAKUSHI1947.107.12_1001
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / Flavonols
Quercetin	5280343	Click to see	302.23	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00568027
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides
2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-3-((2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl)oxychromen-4-one	51402807	Click to see	464.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1248/YAKUSHI1947.107.12_1001 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00568027
Astragalin	5282102	Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O	448.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1248/YAKUSHI1947.107.12_1001
Hyperoside	5281643	Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)O	464.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00568027
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Stilbenes
2,4-Dimethoxy-6-(2-phenylethenyl)benzoic acid	85800629	Click to see COC1=CC(=C(C(=C1)OC)C(=O)O)C=CC2=CC=CC=C2	284.31	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-2860(01)00758-X
2,4-dimethoxy-6-[(E)-2-phenylethenyl]benzoic acid	101159673	Click to see	284.31	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-2860(01)00758-X

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Persicaria maculosa

Table of Contents

Details Top

Ethnobotanical Use Top

General Uses Top

Synonyms Top

Common names Top

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

Forms (abbr. f.) Top

Germination/Propagation Top

Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Links to other databases Top

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

Scientific Literature Top

Phytochemical Profile Top

Gallery Top

Contributors Top

Collections Top