Chinese Knotweed is a common native herbaceous plant, typically grows prostrate along the ground. It is easily recognizable by its ovate leaves, with V-shaped markings on the upper surface, and purplish-red young stems. During its flowering period from July to September, tiny white flowers that resemble grains of rice bloom, leading to some of its rice-inspired Chinese nicknames like "Cold Rice Vine" (冷飯藤) and "Rice-weighing Vine" (秤飯藤). Besides being a commonly used herb in traditional Chinese medicine, where the entire plant has medicinal properties, its leaves are also major food source for Purple Sapphire caterpillars and Altica cyanea.