Polygonum sagittatum (Arrow tearthumb)

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Polygonum sagittatum L.

Arrow tearthumb, arrowleaf tearthumb

Arrow tearthumb is a North American native.

Plants: These plants have hollow vinelike stems up to 3–6′ (91–182 cm) long, with squared edges and tiny, backward-pointing prickles. The prickles help the plant attach to surrounding plants as it meanders over them. Stems may be green, pink, or red.

Leaves: Shaped like arrowheads, attached via short ⅜″ (1 cm) stems. The base of each leaf is clasping—it tends to wrap around the stem. Leaf edges also have tiny prickles.

Flowers: Flowerheads are less than ⅜″ (1 cm) in diameter, white to pink in color. Each rounded flowerhead consists of 5-20 individual flowers at the end of a long stem, which emerges from a leaf node.

Fruits: Small nutlets, brown to black.

Habitats: Wet, marshy ground.

Similar species.

Online References:

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Persicaria sagittata (L.) Gross.
Polygonum sagittatum L. var. gracilentum Fernald
Tracaulon sagittatum (L.) Small
Truellum sagittatum (L.) Soják
Tracaulon sagittatum (L.) Small var. gracilentum (Fernald) C.F. Reed

8/18/2010 · J. Harry Rich Woods, off Nod Rd., Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)

8/17/2020 · Otter Brrok Preserve, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)

9/11/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 4½″ (13 × 12 cm)

8/22/2023 · Schiller Coastal Studies Center, Orr’s Island, Maine · ≈ 2½ × 3½″ (6.4 × 9.2 cm)

8/18/2010 · J. Harry Rich Woods, off Nod Rd., Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm)

8/4/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 11 × 7″ (27 × 18 cm)

8/17/2020 · Otter Brrok Preserve, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm)

8/22/2023 · Schiller Coastal Studies Center, Orr’s Island, Maine · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 20 cm)

7/20/2021 · Otter Brrok Preserve, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 10 cm)

9/11/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)

8/18/2010 · J. Harry Rich Woods, off Nod Rd., Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 3 × 3″ (7.6 × 7.4 cm)

8/18/2010 · J. Harry Rich Woods, off Nod Rd., Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 7.9 cm)

9/27/2025 · Monhegan Island, Maine · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 15 cm)

9/3/2021 · Topsham Recreational Path along the Androscoggin River, Topsham, Maine

8/15/2021 · Bass Falls Preserve, Alna, Maine · ≈ 2½ × 2½″ (6.6 × 6.7 cm)

8/18/2010 · J. Harry Rich Woods, off Nod Rd., Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm)

8/15/2021 · Bass Falls Preserve, Alna, Maine · ≈ 3½ × 6″ (9.4 × 14 cm)

8/22/2023 · Schiller Coastal Studies Center, Orr’s Island, Maine · ≈ 3½ × 5″ (9.4 × 13 cm)

8/15/2021 · Bass Falls Preserve, Alna, Maine · ≈ 4 × 4″ (11 × 10 cm)

7/20/2021 · Otter Brrok Preserve, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 2 × 3″ (5.7 × 8 cm)

9/14/2013 · Whitewater Rafting Trip, Barryville to Pond Eddy Leg, Delaware River, Barryville, Pennsylvania · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 8.7 cm)

9/11/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)

9/11/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)

8/15/2021 · Bass Falls Preserve, Alna, Maine · ≈ 4½ × 2½″ (11 × 7.2 cm)

9/14/2013 · Whitewater Rafting Trip, Barryville to Pond Eddy Leg, Delaware River, Barryville, Pennsylvania · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 8.7 cm)

8/15/2021 · Bass Falls Preserve, Alna, Maine · ≈ 4½ × 3½″ (11 × 9.4 cm)

9/11/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 4″ (13 × 10 cm)

8/22/2023 · Schiller Coastal Studies Center, Orr’s Island, Maine · ≈ 2½ × 3½″ (6.8 × 9.8 cm)

8/28/2021 · Otter Brrok Preserve, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 2 × 2″ (5.7 × 5.3 cm)

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin)
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Caryophyllidae	Cacti, many other succulents, carnivorous plants, and leadworts
Order	Caryophyllales	Includes cacti, carnations, amaranths, ice plants, and many carnivorous plants
Family	Polygonaceae	Knotweed or smartweed family
Genus	Polygonum	Greek poly, “many,” and gonu, “knee,” for the swollen jointed stems
Species	sagittatum	Latin for “Arrow-shaped”

About plant names...

Range:

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Polygonum sagittatum description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.