Alaska wild rhubarb, Alpine knotweed
Persicaria alpina

Family: Polygonaceae

What it is like

A tall herb. It grows 2 m high. It branches from above the middle. The stems have grooves and are pale reddish or white. The leaves are oval or sword shaped. They are 3-9 cm long by 1-3 cm wide. They narrow to a short stalk. There can be some hairs underneath. The flowers are small and pale pink or white. They are in branched, pyramid shaped clusters. These can be 30 cm long.

There are about 50 Polygonum species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows on the edges of forests and grassy slopes. It grows between 800-2,400 m above sea level. It grows in north and west China. In the western Himalayas it grows between 1,500-3,000 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Asia, Central Asia, China, Europe, Himalayas, India, Italy, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Mediterranean, Mongolia, North America, Northeastern India, Pakistan, Russia, Siberia, Sikkim, Spain, Turkey, Türkiye, USA

How it is used for food

The leaves are eaten raw or cooked. The young stems are peeled, cut into pieces and used like rhubarb with sugar.

Edible parts

Drink, leaves, seeds, stem

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Elayiz, Kizlez, Kapousta, Kamouslouk

Synonyms

Acogonum alaskanum (Small) Sojak; Polygonum alaskanum (Small) W. Wight ex Hulten; and several others