| mile-a-minute weed | USDA PLANTS Symbol: POPE10 U.S. Nativity: Exotic Habit: Vines |
| Persicaria perfoliata (L.) H. Gross |
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Taxonomic Rank: Magnoliopsida: Polygonales: Polygonaceae |
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| Synonym(s): devil's tearthumb | |
| Native Range: Temp. & trop. Asia (GRIN); | |
Mile-a-minute weed is an herbaceous, annual vine that invades disturbed areas in Oregon and portions of the northeastern United States. The delicate stems are reddish, highly branched and covered with small, curved spines. Circular, leafy structures (ocreae) surround the stem at the base of the petioles. The alternate leaves are triangular, light green, 1-3 in. (2.5-7.6 cm) wide and barbed on the undersurface. Small, white, inconspicuous flowers arise from the ocreae. Fruits, present in mid-July through the first frost, are metallic blue and segmented with each segment containing a single black or reddish black seed. Mile-a-minute weed invades open disturbed areas such as fields, forest edges, roadsides, ditches and stream banks. Its rapid growth allows it to cover existing vegetation and restrict light availability, potentially killing plants below. Dense mats of mile-a-minute weed can also restrict establishment of new vegetation. Mile-a-minute weed is native to Eastern Asia and the Philippines and was introduced several times into the United States from the late 1800s to the 1930s. |
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Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources
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| Selected Images from Invasive.org | View All Images at Invasive.org |
 Foliage; Britt Slattery, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Feature(s); Armed Stems Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Fruit(s); immature Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Fruit(s); Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Fruit(s); Close-up of Fruits and Ocreate Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Seedling(s); Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
| EDDMapS Distribution: This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts and records obtained from USDA Plants Database. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org |
 State(s) Where Reported invasive. Based on state level agency and organization lists of invasive plants from WeedUS database. |
