Coast Buckwheat

Eriogonum latifolium

Another common plant in the dune habitat is coast buckwheat (seaside buckwheat). This plant is most easily recognized by its leaves, even when not in bloom. The leaves are coarse but not really fleshy and covered with white fuzz. The flowers are in clusters, the color varies from white to red. The stem can be short or rather long. It is not a vine.

Coast buckwheat (Eriogonum latifolium) is part of the Knotweed family (Polygonaceae) and you can see swollen joints on the stem. Here is picture that shows joints clearer:

Coast buckwheat (Eriogonum latifolium)

Here is a picture with more mature plant that turned pink:

Eriogonum latifolium in bloom

Beach Knotweed

 Beach knotweed among the Morning glory round leaves

Beach Knotweed (Polygonum paronychia) is one of the common plants that can be seen on the beach among the dunes. This plant is fairly easy to identify by its narrow green leaves and small white flowers. The blooming season lasts at least a month, perhaps more.

As the Latin name suggests, the plant is part of the Knotweed family (Polygonaceae) so look for the swollen or distinctive joints along the stem. The flowers are not the spike like lots of other genera but rather distinctive small white flowers.

Beach knotweed flower close-up

Polygonum hydropiperoides

Polygonum hydropiperoides is another polygonum that can be seen at the marshes and swamps. The name means "looks like water pepper". Sometimes they can even grow partially submerged in water. This plant is much smaller than Polygonum cuspidatum discussed in previous post. It is just a regular plant with small white flowers.

In the picture below notice the distinct joint. This plant grew in water or at least very close to water as I could not get too close to it.

Polygonum hydropiperoides

And here is a view of close-up of the flowers. Notice the red stem.

Polygonum hydropiperoides flowers

Polygonum cuspidatum

Polygonum cuspidatum bush

Knotweeds, also known as polygonums (or polygoni?) belong to knotweed family (Polygonaceae), a characterristic feature of this family being that lots of plant have swollen  or at least dictinct joints. That is well reflected in the Latin name of the family: poly means "many" and goni means "knee" or "joint". As a typical representative of the family, polygonum is a classic example.

There are a whole lots of polygonum species. Some grow in or near the water and some on high ground. I found one specie growing on high ground right here in the town where I live. An interesting thing is that it seems to grow at just one particular location as I've never seen it anywhere else. It is probably Polygonum cuspidatum but the species are hard to tell apart.

And here is a close-up of the branch where you can see these swollen joints.

Polygonum cuspidatum joint

The stems are red or reddish. The leaves are big, nicely shaped and symmetrical.

Polygonum cuspidatum branch

The flowers are small, formed in spikes. In this particular species the flowers are white but some species have pink flowers. They are shaped the same though.

Polygonum cuspidatum branch

And here is a nice picture of close-up of the flowers Notice the black anthers.

Polygonum cuspidatum flowers

And while we are at it I have another picture of different polygonum species.

Curly Dock

 Curly dock in Felicita park (historic photograph)

Curly dock is a great plant. Not only does it grow wild in commons and wastelands but it is also an edible plant and quite tasty at that. Just saute it with onions and tomatoes.


So we found some good looking curly dock in Felicita park when we first came. We harvested some leaves (always leaving the majority of the plant intact). The same common or meadow had sweet alyssum and nettle growing there as well. So you could get on a foraging expedition and be in and out in no time.

But something terrible happened. They (the park authorities) decided to use this common for the parking lot. They have not paved it but they destroyed all the plants. Curly dock was the first one to go. Then nettle, even it grew only on the hillsides and was not even visible. This all happened within one year. We witnessed the destruction of wild plants firsthand and it does not feel good.

There was still plenty of nettle in the park but you had to look in different places. But the park was getting to look more and more like a sports part: just the mowed grass and no more wild plants that do not look like the grass. That's the way things are.

Buckwheat

Buckwheat (Felicita Park)

Buckwheat is one of the most common desert plants that can be seen almost everywhere. It endures heat very well and adds refreshing green in the spring.