buckwheat vine

This is Brunnichia ovata in the family of polygonaceae:

I found this flowering vine on the second gate going into Mule Jail.  This picture was taken on July 18, 2009.  B. ovata is native to the US and can be found throughout the Southeast.  It is an unremarkable plant.

curly dock

This is an example of Rumex crispus in the family of polygonaceae:

Found by the sidewalk circling the JSU stadium on May 4th of 2007, this plant is an alien to the US and Canada.  Found everywhere, it isn't much to look at from a distance and closer inspection yields a similar experience.  It seems that this invader lacks both beauty and charm, relying on the brute force of numbers to survive in this new world.  It is an example of the panicle flower arrangement. 

lady's thumb

here is polygonum persicaria, of the family polygonaceae.

this little plant can be found throughout Mule Jail, though it requires a good amount of sun to be abundant, i have found solitary examples growing in the shady regions of the woods. it is believed that this plant was introduced into the US but beyond that there isn't much readily available information.

white smartweed

here is polygonatum punctatum, of the family polygonaceae.



it is a larger plant than i had expected, this specimen was found on the banks of the Pearl River a little less than a mile from the Ross-Barnett reservoir.