Persicaria perfoliata species profile (Mile-a-Minute weed)

Mennoniteman

Well-Known Member
I recently took notice of these Mile-a-Minute invasive weeds after I started noticing heavy deer browsing, and found out that it's a member of the buckwheat family. Who'da ever guessed this one!
We always considered Persicaria perfoliata as one of the worst invasives around. When you log an area this stuff takes over and keeps the timber from regenerating, and it's got the mean little recurved barb thorns that rip at your hands and clothing when you are trying to drag a deer through it.5b6c9683d827b.image.jpg
Common names include mile-a-minute, devil's tail, giant climbing tearthumb, and Asiatic tearthumb. It is a very tender annual, withering with a slight frost, and reproduces successfully until the first frost. The vines can grow 6" a day and can reach more than 30' per year. It only reproduces by spreading seeds.
Anyway, I discovered from observation that deer just love mile-a-minute, so it's not as terrible as i thought it was, but I still wouldn't advise introducing it if you don't have any, it's like making a deal with the devil, which it's aptly called.
 
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