Reproduction: Primarily a self-pollinating plant (supported by its inconspicuous, closed flowers and lack of a detectable scent), with occasional outcrossing. Fruits and viable seeds are produced without assistance from pollinators.
What Is Mile-a-minute Weed - (Persicaria perfoliata)?
Habitat: Terrestrial. Prefers wet areas.
Distribution in Ireland: Sparse distribution but locally abundant in some places.
Status: Established
Family name: Polygonaceae
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Mile-a-minute weed infestation
Mile-a-minute Weed is a species of flowering plant in the buckwheat family. Common names include mile-a-minute weed, devil's tail, giant climbing tearthumb, and Asiatic tearthumb. It is a trailing herbaceous annual vine with barbed stems and triangular leaves. It is native to most of temperate and tropical eastern Asia, from eastern Russia in the north down to the Philippines and India in the south.
How To Identify Mile-a-minute Weed?
Colour: Reddish stem that is armed with downward pointing hooks or barbs which are also present on the underside of the leaf blades.
Leaf: The light green leaves are shaped like an equilateral (equal-sided) triangle and alternate along the narrow, delicate stems.
Mile-a-minute weed - Persicaria perfoliate ID Guide
Mile-a-minute weed leaves
Mile-a-minute weed seed
Leaf
Why Is Mile-a-minute Weed A Problem?
Forms dense mats that crowd out native species. It is a vigorous, barbed, vine that smothers other herbaceous plants, shrubs and even trees by growing over them.
Growing up to 16 cm per day, mile-a-minute weed forms dense mats that cover other plants and then stresses and weakens themthrough smothering and physically damaging them.
Sunlight is blocked, thus decreasing the covered plant’s ability to photosynthesize; and the weight and pressure of the mile-a-minute weed can cause poor growth of branches and foliage. The smothering can eventually kill overtopped plants.
Mile-a-minute Weed - Invasive Weed Information
European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 non-native invasive plant species A-Z (Updated 2017)
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There are currently 35 invasive plant species listed in the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations (annex 2, Part 1)...
Click on a species from the following list to find out more regarding non-native species subject to restrictions under Regulations 49 and 50.
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American Skunk-Cabbage - Lysichiton americanus
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Red Alga - Grateloupia doryphora
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Waterweeds - Elodea (all species)