Habitat: bank, cliff, coast, dry, gravel, hill, loam, lowland, open, pasture, river terrace, roadside, rock outcrop, sand, slope, terrace, wasteland

Dispersal: Seed, vegetative

Distribution from the Australasian Virtual Herbarium. CC-BY 3.0 AU
Distribution from the Australasian Virtual Herbarium. CC-BY 3.0 AU
 Recognition
  • a mat-like perennial herbaceous plant with a slender, woody rootstock and long slender, creeping, rooting stems.
  • its leaves are 1.5-5.5 cm long, becoming red with age, rose-pink, and with a brownish blotch above.
  • its inflorescence is a globose head 7-20 mm across and with numerous small flowers.
  • its flowers are pink, 2.5-3 mm long and it produces a small (1.5 mm long) and brown nut.
 Images
Image: Trevor James © Trevor James
Image: Trevor James © Trevor James
Image: Trevor James © Trevor James
Image: Trevor James © Trevor James
Image: Trevor James © Trevor James
Image: Trevor James © Trevor James
Weeds Key – interactive key to the weed species of New Zealand
 References
Howell, C. 2008: Consolidated list of environmental weeds in New Zealand. DOC Research & Development Series 292: 42. [as Polygonum capitatum Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don]