( persicaria, lady's thumb, willow weed ) Latin name: Persicaria
maculosa Gray, (Polygonum persicaria L.) Occurrence: Redshank is
a native summer annual generally distributed throughout the UK
on waste, cultivated and open ground. It is recorded up to 1,500
ft. It is a troublesome weed in cultivated fields and gardens.
It occurs on most soils but especially on moist, rich soils and
on acid peaty loams. It is said to thrive on soils deficient in
lime. Redshank occurs in cereals and other arable crops but it
is not associated with a particular crop and is regarded as a
follower of man. Redshank exhibits considerable phenotypic
plasticity and genotypic variation. The leaves vary in shape and
size and the flowers may be red, pink or white. It can form
hybrids with pale persicaria (P. lapathifolia). Redshank was
regarded as nutritious and has been fed to horses and cattle as
green food. The leaves are rich in vitamin C. However, the plant
contains oxalates and is potentially toxic in large amounts.
Biology: Redsha