What is this plant?

[Goatboy]

On yesterdays walk I came across this plant. Think it may be part of the thistle family despite it's soft leaves. Walking stick in there for scale and I think the dried thistle type heads are part of the same plant.

 

[Geoff Dann]

Looks like a member of the daisy family (Asteraceae). That's probably not much help though.

 

[xylaria]

Knapweed dont know which one. I am guessing.

 

[Goatboy]

Is this Persicaria minor, Small Water-pepper?

 

[Harvestman]

I'd say it was a water pepper, Persicaria sp, but wouldn't like to commit to a species. The water peppers usually have a slightly drooping flower spike, and P. minor has leaves less than 10mm wide. The other feature for identification is the taste: is it hot and peppery or not?

 

[Goatboy]

I'd say it was a water pepper, Persicaria sp, but wouldn't like to commit to a species. The water peppers usually have a slightly drooping flower spike, and P. minor has leaves less than 10mm wide. The other feature for identification is the taste: is it hot and peppery or not?

I must admit I didn't taste it, heard you can use it in Japanese cooking especially in sashimi. Will have a nibble when passing next, there's heaps.