Family: Amaranthaceae
Author: L.
Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 35 (1753)
Year: 1753
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Polycnemum
Vegetable: False
Observations: Europe to Xinjiang
Description
Soft needleleaf, known by its scientific name Polycnemum arvense, is a species belonging to the Amaranthaceae family. This plant was first described by the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus in his seminal work “Species Plantarum” in 1753.
Polycnemum arvense is predominantly found across a vast geographic range, extending from Europe all the way to Xinjiang in China. The plant is noted for its delicate, needle-like leaves, which contribute to its common name, “soft needleleaf”.
Growing in a variety of environments, Soft needleleaf is well-adapted to diverse climates and soil types, which allows it to thrive in different regions. Its presence across such a wide area signifies its resilient nature and adaptability to various environmental factors.
As part of the Amaranthaceae family, Polycnemum arvense shares characteristics common to this group, such as typically being herbaceous, and often featuring foliage that is both functional and aesthetic. The soft, slender leaves of this plant not only serve its physiological needs but also lend a unique visual appeal to the flora of its native habitats.
The plant retains significant ecological importance within its native range, contributing to the biodiversity of the regions it inhabits. Its role in the ecosystem, adaptation strategies, and botanical characteristics continue to make it a subject of interest in plant studies and botany.
In culmination, Soft needleleaf, with its extensive Eurasian dispersal, serves as an intriguing example of botanical adaptability and ecological presence, well-documented by Linnaeus in the 18th century and studied by botanists to this day.
Common Names
Deu: acker-knorpelkraut
Eng: field needleleaf, soft needleleaf, crunchweed
Swe: broskört, vanlig broskört
Ces: chruplavník rolní
Lav: tīruma poliknēma
Fra: polycnème des champs, petit polycnème
Nld: akkerknarkruid
En: Soft needleleaf, Field needleleaf, Crunchweed, Field Polycnemum
Be: Хрупляўнік палявы
Ca: Herba pinera
Zh: Duo jie cao
Cs: Chruplavník rolní
Nl: Akkerknarkruid
Fi: Otarustoruoho
Fr: Polycnème des champs, Petit polycnème
De: Acker-Knorpelkraut
It: Canforata selvatica
Lv: Tīruma poliknēma
Pl: Chrząstkowiec polny
Ru: Хруплявник полевой
Sv: Broskört, Vanlig broskört
Synonyms
- Polycnemum arvense var. macrophyllum (Neilr.)
- Polycnemum arvense var. minus (Döll)
- Polycnemum arvense var. longifolium (Neilr.)
- Polycnemum arvense subsp. minus ((Kitt.) Čelak.)
- Rovillia glabra (Bubani)
- Polycnemum minus (Kitt.)
- Polycnemum recurvum (Loisel.)
- Polycnemum pumilum (Hoppe ex Mert. & W.D.J.Koch)
- Polycnemum vulgare (Pall.)
- Polycnemum arvense var. recurvum ((Loisel.) Gaudin)
- Polycnemum inundatum (Schrank)
- Polycnemum viaticum (Pall.)
- Polycnemum arvense var. procumbens (Gaudin)
- Polycnemum arvense var. multicaule (Wallr.)
Distribution
- Albania (native)
- Altay (native)
- Austria (native)
- Baltic States (native)
- Belarus (native)
- Belgium (native)
- Bulgaria (native)
- Central European Rus (native)
- Corse (native)
- Cyprus (native)
- Czechoslovakia (native)
- East European Russia (native)
- France (native)
- Germany (native)
- Greece (native)
- Hungary (native)
- Italy (native)
- Kazakhstan (native)
- Kirgizstan (native)
- North Caucasus (native)
- Poland (native)
- Portugal (native)
- Romania (native)
- South European Russi (native)
- Spain (native)
- Switzerland (native)
- Tadzhikistan (native)
- Transcaucasus (native)
- Turkey (native)
- Turkey-in-Europe (native)
- Turkmenistan (native)
- Ukraine (native)
- Uzbekistan (native)
- Xinjiang (native)
- Yugoslavia (native)
- British Columbia (introduced)
- Finland (introduced)
Additional Images
Flower
Taken May 25, 2021 by Flor Alex (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 22, 2022 by Liliane Pessotto (cc-by-sa)
Leaf
Taken May 25, 2021 by Flor Alex (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 15, 2022 by Nathalie Mabboux (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 22, 2022 by Liliane Pessotto (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 22, 2022 by Liliane Pessotto (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken Sep 22, 2022 by Liliane Pessotto (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 15, 2018 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)
Taken Jan 1, 1970 by Photoflora – L’Abbé COSTE (©)
Taken Jul 31, 1850 by Tela Botanica − Herbier PONTARLIER-MARICHAL (cc-by-sa)
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Habit
Taken Aug 15, 1994 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)
Taken Aug 15, 1999 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)
Taken Aug 15, 1999 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)
Taken Sep 27, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Marie PORTAS (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 27, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Marie PORTAS (cc-by-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3083603)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:166388-1)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Polycnemum arvense L.)
Specifications
Growth habit>: Forb/herb
Growth
Ph maximum: 7.5
Ph minimum: 7.0
Light: 8
Atmospheric humidity: 3
Bloom months: [‘jun’, ‘jul’, ‘aug’, ‘sep’]
Soil nutriments: 5