Polygonum chinense L., Sp. Pl.: 363. 1753; Meisn. in DC. Prodr. 14: 130. 1857; Hook.f., Fl. Bri. Ind. 5: 44. 1886; R.N.Parker, For. Fl. Punj. Haz. 423. 1921 (reprint. ed.); Bhopal & Chaudhri in Pak. Syst. 1(2): 74. 1977; Ampelygonum chinense (L.) Lindley in Bot. Reg. 24. 63. 1838.

Erect-suberect, up to 1 m tall, divaricately branched shrubby perennial. Stem ± woody, circular, glabrous or sparsely pubescent or glandular pubescent. Leaves 6-17 x 1-7.5 cm, ovate oblong, linear or deltoid ovate, base usually truncate, apex acute or acuminate, entire, petiole 4-9 mm long usually 2-auricled at the base. Ochrea 6-15 (-20) mm long, foliaceous, orbicular, dentate, ± tubular.

Inflorescence a compound corymb, peduncles glandular hairy. Flowers 2.0-3.5 mm across, pedicel c. 1 mm long, ochreolae, ovate, hairy, eglandular, eciliate, tepals 5, 2.5-4 x 1.25-1.5 mm, lanceolate, acute, entire, white or pinkish, accrescent and fleshy. Stamens 7-8, filaments long, filiform, equal, attached to the staminal tube, ovary 1-1.5 x 0.5-0.75 mm, trigonous with 3 filiform styles, free above the middle, connate below, stigmas capitate. Fruits baccate, fleshy, fruiting perianth c. 2 mm thick, fleshy. Nuts trigonous 2-3 (-4) x 1.5-2 mm, included in the fleshy perianth.

Fl. Per.: September-November.

Type: China, Herb. Linn. 510.30 (LINN).

Distribution: India, Bhutan, Myanmar, China, Japan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, introduced in Pakistan.