From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Common Knotgrass
Polygonum aviculare
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Polygonales
Family:	Polygonaceae
Genus:	Polygonum
Species:	P. aviculare
Binomial name
Polygonum aviculare L., 1753

Polygonum aviculare or Common Knotgrass is a plant related to buckwheat and dock. It is also called birdweed, pigweed and lowgrass. In Vietnam, it is called rau đắng. It is an annual found in fields and wasteland, with white flowers from June to October.

Folklore

Nicholas Culpeper states that the plant is ruled astrologically by Saturn and Capricorn.

Herbalism

Culpeper recommended knotweed to cure the spitting of blood. Modern herbalists use it to treat dysentery, excessive menstrual flow, lung disorders, bronchitis and jaundice, and gall and kidney stones. Not all of these uses are supported by scientific evidence.

The plant is an astringent, coagulant, diuretic and expectorant.

Cuisine

In Vietnam, it is widely used to prepare soup and hot pot, particularly in the South region.

Subspecies

• Polygonum aviculare subsp. aviculare
• Polygonum aviculare subsp. depressum (Meisn.) Arcang.
• Polygonum aviculare subsp. rurivagum (Jord. ex Boreau) Berher in Louis

References

• Howard, Michael. Traditional Folk Remedies, (Century, 1987); p. 162.

From Wikispecies

Polygonum aviculare

Taxonavigation

Classification System: APG II (down to family level)

Main Page
Cladus: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiospermae
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: core eudicots
Cladus: Unassigned core eudicots
Ordo: Caryophyllales
Familia: Polygonaceae
Genus: Polygonum
Species: Polygonum aviculare

Name

Polygonum aviculare L.

References

• Sp. pl. 1:362. 1753
• USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Data from 28-Oct-07]. 29238

Vernacular names

For more multimedia, look at Polygonum aviculare on Wikimedia Commons.