Scientific name	Persicaria maculosa – Polygonum aviculare weed community
Common name	Redshank – Knotgrass weed community
Community code	WE1F

 

Download full pdf synopsis: WE1F

 

Vegetation

The constant species in this sparse and somewhat variable weed community are Persicaria maculosa, Ranunculus repens and Polygonum aviculare. Frequent species include Stellaria media, Chenopodium album, Poa annua, Potentilla anserina, Trifolium repens, Agrostis stolonifera and the annual archaeophytes Fallopia convolvulus and Spergula arvensis.

Ecology

This community contains several pernicious weeds of cultivated land and is found growing amongst crops in arable fields, flower beds, and market and kitchen gardens. Also included here are some annual assemblages from the seasonally-inundated muddy banks of rivers and reservoirs.

 

Sub-communities

No sub-communities are described.

 

Similar communities

From other weed communities, WE1F is distinguished mainly by the frequency and abundance of Persicaria maculosa and Polygonum aviculare.

Conservation value

Vegetation corresponding to this community is typically of relatively low conservation value, however examples from muddy shores of lakes and rivers may correspond to EU HD Annex I habitat 3270 Chenopodion rubri.

 

Management

The persistence of the segetal aspect of this community is dependent on disturbance that comes with arable farming and gardening practices. The inundated aspect may be lost due to changes in hydrology.