Persicaria hydropiper - Water-pepper - (Polygonaceae)

Water-pepper is common and widespread throughout the UK and Ireland except for the far north of Scotland.

Marshy ground beside feeder streams and ponds is where water pepper is usually found. A relative of Redshank and Pale Persicaria, this annual is easily overlooked because its pinkish flowers are so small.

Water pepper

We find plenty of Water - pepper beside the River Teif in West Wales where we took this photographi. This flower, which blooms from July to September, gets its name from the peppery taste of the leaves.