About Polygonum shastense W.H.Brewer ex A.Gray
Polygonum shastense is a fairly elegant small perennial shrub that produces tough, branching, gnarled brown stems. These stems grow to a maximum length of 40 centimeters, or 16 inches, and grow either prostrate along the ground or somewhat upright. The bases of older plants can become wide, woody, and gray. Leaves line the slender but rough stems; they are uniform in size and distribution, and are not clustered or reduced in size near stem tips. Leaves are lance-shaped, with two parallel veins that separate three raised areas on the upper leaf surface. Each leaf measures 5 to 8 millimeters, or 0.20 to 0.32 inches, long. New leaves emerge slightly curled and folded in half lengthwise. Leaves bear stipules that widen into membranous ochrea that wrap around the leaf bases. Flowers grow in clusters in the upper leaf axils. Each flower is just under a centimeter wide, with five rounded petals; petals are either white with a green stripe or pink with a dark stripe. This species has 5 to 8 stamens, and a triangular pistil with a 3-lobed style. Individual plants can produce all white flowers, all pink flowers, or a mixture of both flower colors.
