Wildflower of the valley
Pink-headed Knotweed
Polygonum capitatum
- How easy to find
- Very rare — you need to search for it — local knowledge helps
- Flower size
- Small
- Family
- Polygonaceae (Knotweed family)
- Local name
- Kaflya
- Type
- Herb
- Height
- small
- Flower colour
- red,blue
- Flowering
- June to September
About Pink-headed Knotweed
Polygonum capitatum is an annual herb. Stems are creeping and rooting at nodes. Branches are ascending. Leaves are ovate elliptic and acute at apex. Flowers are small and in terminal globular heads. Stamens are alternating with nectar glands.
Where to find it
- Along the trail from Govindghat to Ghangaria
Habitat
Cultivated fields and often creeping on rocks.
Uses & folklore
Plant is used as an antidote to snake poison, boils and insect stings.
What the name means
Polygonum is Greek polys (many) + gonu (knee/joint), after the many-jointed stems; capitatum means "in a head", after the round pink flower cluster.
