Knot Grass, Prostrate Knotweed, Creeping wireweed
Polygonum aviculare

Family: Polygonaceae

What it is like

A small herb which lays along the ground. It has a long and slender but very fibrous taproot. There are many branches coming from this taproot. The branches can be upright but often lie along the ground. They can be 90-120 cm long. On young plants the lower leaves are much larger than the stem leaves. The leaves are narrow and sword shaped. The leaves are blue-green. There can be 5 flowers in the axil of a leaf. The flowers are white.

Chemical composition: Sugar = 2.5%. Ash = 2.44%. Very rich in zinc. There are about 50 Polygonum species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in hot arid places with a marked dry season. It grows in wetlands. It grows between 50-2,550 m above sea level and can be up to 4,200 m. In the Indian Himalayas it grows between 3,000-4,000 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places. In Yunnan. In Sichuan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia, Botswana, Brazil, Britain, Canada, Caucasus, Central Asia, Chile, China, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Europe (country/location of origin), Falklands, France, Georgia, Germany, Himalayas, Hungary, India, Indochina, Iraq, Ireland, Kenya, Korea, Kurdistan, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Manchuria, Mexico, Middle East, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, North America, Pakistan, Paraguay, Russia, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Uruguay, USA, Vietnam, Yemen, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves and shoots are eaten cooked as a vegetable. They are also cooked with yoghurt, The leaves are used as a substitute for tea. The seeds are eaten or ground into flour. They are used for pancakes, cookies and pinole. The leaves can be dried and stored.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds, leaves - tea

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Ban-natia, Bandakay, Banduke, Bannalia, Banonatia, Bianduya ebesu, Bianxu, Bianxucai, Centinodia, Chencheghpashar, Cien nudos, Corredora, Drop, Gooseweed, Gorets ptichii, Gusina travka, Hunraj, Kesru, Kusdili, Machoti, Machutie, Michi-yanagi, Mit'it'ela, Nadi, Nanjujek, Nisomali, Pasto chanchero, Pasto pollo, Pato del pollo, Pimienta de agua, Pinkweed, Rau dang, Sandrug, Sangriana, Sanguinaria, Sanjines, Smartweed, Sporish, Troskot, Wireweed

Synonyms

Aviculare vulgaris Didr.; Polygonum heterophyllum Lindm.; and several others