Weeds of Australia - Fact Sheet

Top Scientific Name Synonyms Family Common Names Origin Naturalised Distribution Notes

Scientific Name

Polygonum aviculare L.

Synonyms

Polygonum aviculare L. var. diffusum Meisn.
Polygonum monspeliense Pers.

Family

Polygonaceae

Common Names

bird grass, birdgrass, common knotgrass, door-weed, doorweed, goose grass, goose-grass, hogweed, ironweed, knot-grass, knotgrass, knotweed, mat grass, matgrass, pink weed, pinkweed, polygonum, prostrate knotweed, Ray's knotgrass, sea knotgrass, small leaved knotgrass, stone grass, stonegrass, way grass, waygrass, wire weed, wireweed, yard knotweed

Origin

This species is widespread in temperate regions of the world, and probably originated in Europe.

Naturalised Distribution

Widely naturalised in southern, central and eastern Australia (i.e. in southern and central Queensland, New South Wales, the ACT, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, the southern parts of the Northern Territory and the southern and western parts of Western Australia).

Notes

Wireweed (Polygonum aviculare) is regarded as an environmental weed is a serious weed of crops, pastures, disturbed sites and waste areas in Australia. It also invades native vegetation and is regarded as an environmental weed in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.