Polygonum aviculare

Common Knotgrass
Polygonum aviculare 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. 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.

Subspecies

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

Source

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