Thinking about planting Japanese Knotweed, Giant Knotweed, or Silver Lace Vine in your garden? Please reconsider. Even "non-invasive" cultivars can contribute to the general problem of knotweed invasion, because hybridization can occur. Also, consider planting native species instead!
Japanese knotweed is a plant known by so many different common and scientific names, a simple literature search can take hours! Below is a list of all the known names, along with the origin of each name and a note about how frequently it is used.
Common Names
Name
Origin
Usage
Notes
Japanese knotweed
Japanese refers to the Asian origin of the species. Knotweed
is a reference to the "knots" that bulge out at each stem node.
VC
Mexican bamboo
Bamboo is a reference to the species' bamboo-like stems.
C
This species is definitely not native to Mexico, and probably can't
grow there very succesfully.
Japanese bamboo
See Mexican bamboo
U
German: Translates to "Wild Rhubarb." (Thanks to G.C.)
Japanese fleece-flower
A reference to the proliferous sprays of tiny white flowers that develop on the plants each fall.
U
Hancock's Curse
From Cornwall, England. The plant spread from a garden of someone
named Hancock into a neighboring yard, causing the value of the invaded
property to decrease. (Ref: Conolly, A.P. (1977) "The distribution and
history in the British Isles of some alien species of Polygonum
and Reynoutria." Watsonia. 11: 291-311.)
R
No longer in common use, may be more frequently used in the U.K.
donkey rhubarb
Apparently a reference to the fact that someone would have to be "as stupid as a donkey" to try to eat this or think it was rhubarb.
R
Interesting, since rhubarb is a relative of this species. I am not aware of the intelligence level of donkeys.
Outhouse Weed
Seen on an old herbarium specimen.
VR
This one is my personal favorite.
Wilder Rhabarber
A reference to the similarity of this species to rhubarb, a related genus.
C
German: Translates to "Wild Rhubarb." (Thanks to G.C.)
Wasserrohr
A reference to the look of the plant's noded stems.
C
German: Translates to "Water Pipe." (Thanks to G.C.)
Itadori
So named because of the stature and heft of this herbaceous plant.
The genus is named after Gabriele Fallopio, famous for studying the function of the Fallopian tubes of the human female reproductive system. Sometimes the species is separated out as F. japonica var. japonica, to distinguish between this and var. compacta.
While Japanese knotweed was originally placed in the large genus Polygonum (see below), taxonomists in Europe have long seen reason to separate this and closely related species taxonomically. A paper published in the 1980's placed species from the Tiniaria and Reynoutria genera (see below) together in the genus Fallopia, based on flower morphology (see Ronse Decraene, L.-P. and J. R. Akeroyd (1988). “Generic limits in Polygonum and related genera (Polygonaceae) on the basis of floral characters.” Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 98: 321-371.).
C
This scientific name is not officially accepted, though its use is becoming more common.
Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. & Zucc.
Greek roots: poly=many, gonu=swollen, a reference to the swollen nodes or "knots" along the stem of plants in this genus. Cuspidatum means sharp-pointed, likely a reference to the leaf morphology.
VC
The only official scientific name for this species accepted by ITIS. Still the most frequently used scientific name in North America.
Reynoutria japonica Houtt.
This species was classified in the genus Reynoutria by Houttyn back in the 18th century. It was also independently classified as belonging to the genus Polygonum by Seibold in the 19th century. Unfortunately, it was not until much later that the two names were reconciled.
C
Still the standard scientific name in much of Europe.
Polygonum reynoutria Makino
R
This name is sometimes still used in the nursery trade.
Polygonum zuccarinii Small
One of many combinations of the above specific epithets.
R
Polygonum sieboldii Small
One of many combinations of the above specific epithets. Also, an attempt to name the species after one of the botanists who "discovered" and classified it as part of the genus Polygonum, Philipp Franz von Seibold.
R
Pleuropterus cuspidatus (Sieb. & Zucc.) Moldenke
From the Latin "pleuro," meaning "side" and "pterus," meaning "wing"
VR
Pleuropterus zuccarinii (Small) Small
An attempt to name the species after one of the botanists who "discovered" and classified it as part of the genus Polygonum, Dr. Joseph Zuccarini.
R
Usage Key: VC = Very Common, C = Common, U = Uncommon, R = Rare, VR = Very Rare
All photos, scanned images and graphics are the property of Jennifer Forman and may not be reproduced in any way without express permission from her.
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