Common name: Wireweed
Polygonum aviculare L. APNI* 
Description: Prostrate to decumbent herb, commonly mat-forming, stems to 100 cm long, often rooting at nodes.
Leaves with branch leaves about half the size of stem leaves; narrow-elliptic to narrow-ovate, 15–50 mm long, 3–15 mm wide, 4–5 times as long as wide, apex acute.
Perianth 2.6–4.0 mm long, divided for about two-thirds of its length, tapering abruptly below nut.
Achene 2.2–3.0 mm long, 1.5–1.8 mm diam., dark brown, rather pitted and dull or occasionally smooth and shining.
Distribution and occurrence: Native of Eur.
NSW subdivisions: *NC, *CC, *SC, *NT, *CT, *ST, *NWS, *CWS, *SWS, *NWP, *SWP, *NFWP, *SFWP
Other Australian states: *Qld *Vic. *Tas. *S.A. *W.A.
Less common than the closely related P. arenastrum. Leaves can cause dermatitis; seed can cause enteritis in stock.
Text by K. L. Wilson
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 1 (1990)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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