Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Water Smartweed

The only reason that I'm posting this uninspiring photo is that I wanted to add it to my album on the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. I was there on a birding walk on Saturday morning and our leader, Janet, had noticed this plant before and didn't know what it was. We found it growing in a small inlet leading into the Bow River. Her concern was that it might be an introduced species that should not be there. The leaves are very green for mid-November, so I should check and see if it is a non-native plant - no, it is a native plant. I don't see it very often and never think of it as introduced. Anyway, seeing as neither of us knew the ID, I sent the photo to our main Naturalist in the city and he let us know that it was Water Smartweed / Polygonum amphibium. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persicaria_amphibia This photo was taken two days ago, at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. It was yet another cold, very overcast day and I almost didn't go. However, I had not been out of the house for several days in a row and just needed to get out somewhere. The lighting was atrocious, though this photo came out well enough for what I needed. Many thanks for the morning walk, Janet and Bernie, and for lunch afterwards at the Blackfoot Diner/Truckstop. Just what was needed after a cold walk. I will add their final list of species in a comment box below.

I don't see this species very often, so it's always a delight to come across it. This plant was seen growing in the shallow water near the edge of a small pond on the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area, just south west of the city, on August 19th. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persicaria_amphibia

Water Smartweed grows in shallow water in ponds and lakes and is aquatic or semi-aquatic. This attractive flower belongs to the Buckwheat family. Found this particular plant in Glennfield, Fish Creek Park.

I was happy to come across this Water Smartweed on my walk yesterday. Fortunately, some of it was growing close to the water's edge in the tiny wetland.