Persicaria maculosa

Decumbent to erect annual (rarely perennial) to c. 60 cm high, stems glabrous or with a few short, scattered, subappressed hairs. Ochreas ciliate at apex, usually with short appressed hairs on sheath. Leaves lanceolate, 3–15 cm long, 4–25 mm wide, often with a dark purplish blotch about midway on upper surface, margins and main veins (and often lamina) with short antrorsely appressed bristles, usually with raised glands or tubercles on lower surface; petiole to c. 1 cm long. Spikes ovoid to broadly cylindric, mostly 1–3 cm long, 7–10 mm diam., more or less erect; peduncle c. 1–4 cm long; perianth segments 2–3.5 mm long, pink, sometimes pale, free for about two-thirds their length. Nut broadly ovate, flattish, weakly biconvex, or trigonous, 2–2.5 mm long and almost as wide, smooth and shining, blackish. Flowers Jan.–May.