- Source: Fallopia baldschuanica
Fallopia baldschuanica (syn. Polygonum baldschuanicum) is an Asian species of flowering plant in the knotweed family known by several common names, including Russian-vine, Bukhara fleeceflower, Chinese fleecevine, mile-a-minute and silver lace vine. It is native to Asia (China, Russia, Kazakhstan, etc.), and is growing wild in parts of Europe and North and Central America as an introduced species.
Some authors split the species in two, referring to the Chinese populations as Fallopia aubertii and the Russian and Central Asian species as F. baldschuanica.
Fallopia baldschuanica is grown as an ornamental plant for its flower-laced vines. The white flowers are decorative and provide nectar and pollen for the honey bee. As it is fast-growing, it is used as cover for unsightly fences and other garden structures. It can become invasive, however.
Description
Fallopia baldschuanica is a vining plant with woody, climbing stems at least 10 metres (33 ft) in length. The pointed oval or nearly triangular leaves are up to 10 centimetres (4 in) long and borne on petioles. The inflorescence is an open array of narrow, branching, drooping or spreading clusters of white flowers, each cluster reaching a maximum of 15 centimetres (6 in) long. Flowers hang on short pedicels. Each five-lobed flower is just under a centimeter long and white to greenish or pale pink, sometimes turning bright pink as the fruit develops. The fruit is a shiny black achene about 2 millimetres (5⁄64 in) wide.
See also
Japanese knotweed
References
External links
Jepson Manual Treatment, University of California
Kemper Center for Home Gardening, Missouri Botanical Garden