
Swamp Knotweed
Polygonum amphibium |

aka water knotweed, water smartweed,
amphibious bistort,
water
heart's ease, tear-thumb |

Found in canal
overflow along Highway 97 by the Klamath Wildlife Reserve, by the
boatramp inside the Reserve, on dry land by Columbia Wood on Highway 97
and off 97 nestled in arid soil between two canals. |

Native plant. I wonder if this makes a delicate paper.
The pigweeds in this family make gorgeous paper...
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The soil is boggy, rich, loamy and springy. |

It's just amazing how a normally submerged water plant can be thriving beautifully
on seemingly dry land. |

These plants get up to 3 feet tall and so far are blooming July into September. |

Companion plants: Cattail, bulrush, water lilly. |

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These were also in the backwater area across Highway 97 from the Cormorant snag on
the Klamath Wingwatcher's Trail downtown. |

The leaves were beautiful. A rich dark green with silvery, fine hair that glimmered in the
sunlight. |
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The smartweeds, being polygonums, are related to Japanese knotweed which makes a lovely
paper. |

I broke a stem close to the new leaves to reveal several layers of excellent fiber. It may
be I'll need to use my Cherub as the stem was
quite firm when I snapped it. |

This and the next picture were taken September 18. |
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