Pennsylvania Smartweed

Pennsm1.bmp (1849118 bytes)      smart6.bmp (2714310 bytes)

Seedlings with cotyledons.  Key characteristics: cotyledons lanceolate in shape.   First true leaves are alternate.

Pennsm2.bmp (1788750 bytes)     psmart9.jpg (578550 bytes)  

Vegetative plants.  Key characteristics: leaves are alternate and often have purple watermark on their surfaces.

Pennsm3.bmp (1175514 bytes)

Stem.  Key characteristics: a paper-like sheath known as an ocrea is present at the base of the petioles.  The ocrea found on Pennsylvania smartweed does not contain hair.

Pennsm4.bmp (1765818 bytes)   Pennsm5.bmp (2018818 bytes)

Flowers.  Key characteristics: spike-like clusters range in color from white to pink.

 

Seed.  Seed are rounded with a pointed terminal, reddish-brown and approximately 3.0 mm long.

Life cycle: summer annual.