Polygonum stagninum Buch.-Ham. ex Meisn. in Wall. Fl. As. Rar. 3: 56. 1832; Hook. f., Fl.Brit.Ind. 5: 37. 1886; R. R. Stewart, Ann. Cat. Vasc. Pl. W. Pak. & Kashm. 209. 1972; Bhopal & Chaudhri in Pak. Syst. 1(2): 77. 1977; P. barbatum var. stagninum (Ham. ex Meisn.) Steward, Contr. Gray Herb. 88: 54. 1930; Persicaria barbata (L.) Hara subsp. stagnina (Buch.-Ham. ex Meisn.) Sojak in Preslia 46(2): 152. 1974; Persicaria barbata var. stagnina (Ham. ex Meisn.) Grierson in Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinb. 40: 128. 1982; Polygonum conspersum Meisn. in Wall., Fl. As. Rar. 3: 56. 1832.

Erect, up to 2.0 m tall, branched from base, perennial or annual (?) herb. Stem woody at base, densely strigose-pubescent above, sometimes ± glabrous below. Leaves 7-12 (-15) x 1-2.5 (-3) cm, linear-lanceolate, elliptic or lanceolate, strigose-tomentose more on the lower surface, less on the upper surface, acute-acuminate with a broad base, sessile to subsessile, petiole 3-5 mm long. Ochrea 2-4 cm long, strigose-tomentose, tubular, ovate, ciliate, cilia much shorter than the tube. Inflorescence 7-10 cm long, simple-branched, pedunculate, spicate many flowered raceme, not interupted; peduncle densely strigose. Flowers 2-3 mm across, white, pedicel 2-4 mm long. Ochreolae 2-5 mm long, tubular, imbricate, ciliate, strigose. Tepals 5, white, 2-4 x 1-2 mm, oblanceolate-obovate, obtuse, eglandular. Stamens 8, exerted-subexerted, filaments long, filiform. Ovary 2.0-3.5 x 1.5-2.5 mm, trigonous, with 3 long styles, connate at base, stigmas three, capitate. Nuts trigonous, 2.5-3 x 2.0-2.5 mm, black, shining, scabriculate to reticulate.

Fl. Per.: June-September.

Syntypes: In Bengala inferiore, Wallich 1815 (K!) and Sadullapur, Buchanan- Hamilton.

Seems to be rather rare in our area, grows at the edges of ponds, ditches and other water bodies; Distribution: Pakistan (Hazara), India, Bangladesh, Myanmar.

Closely related to Persicaria barbata from which it differs by its strigosely pubescent leaves and peduncle; ochrea having much shorter cilia at the mouth of ochreal tube.