Meadow bistort
Persicaria bistorta

Family: Polygonaceae

What it is like

A small herb. It grows 1-75 cm high and spreads 15-75 cm wide. It keeps growing from year to year. It has stout rootstocks. The rhizomes are black to brown. They are large and curved and 1-3 cm across. The leaves at the base have long stalks and the leaves on the stem do not have stalks. The leaves are oval and wavy. They are 10-20 cm long. They have rounded tips and flattened bases. They have a stiff leathery texture. They are on winged stalks. The flowers are in dense spikes. The flowers are small and pink. They are on a spike 8 cm long and 1 cm wide. These are cylinder shaped.

There are about 50 Polygonum species. The leaves are rich in Vit C and Vit A.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in cold temperate regions. In northern China it grows between 800-3,000 m above sea level. It grows in hilly grassland and fields. It grows in the subarctic tundra. It suits moist locations. It suits hardiness zones 3-7.

Countries/locations it is found in

Alaska, Albania, Asia, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Belarus, Belgium Bosnia, Britain, Bulgaria, Central Asia, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Europe, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Himalayas, Hungary, India, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, Middle East, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, North America, Northeastern India, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Romania, Russia, Scandinavia, Siberia, Sikkim, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tasmania, Tibet, Turkey, Türkiye, Ukraine, USA, Yugoslavia

How it is used for food

The thick roots or rhizomes, rich in starch, are dried and ground into flour. They can be added to stews. The shoots are used in soups and stews. They are used for Easter ledger pudding. The root and young leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. The young leaves are eaten with oil. The rhizomes can be eaten raw or cooked.

It is eaten in parts of Britain to purify the blood.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds, root, rhizome, flowers

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bistort, Cimeneveligi, Easter ledges, English Serpentary, Kačja dresen, Linboina, Lingo boino, Mountain meadow bistort, Neqenllaq, Passion Dock, Pink plumes, Plume flower, Snakeroot, Snakeweed, Srcanica, Srcenjak, Syukl'yak, Wezownik

Synonyms

Bistorta abbreviata Kom.; Bistorta camea (K. Koch) Kom.; Bistorta elliptica (Willd. ex Spreng.) Kom.; Bistorta ensigera (Juz.) Tzvelev; Bistorta lapidosa Kitag.; Bistorta major Gray; Bistorta nitens (Fisch. & C. A. Mey.) Kom.; Bistorta officinalis Delarbre; Bistorta officinalis Raf.; Bistorta pacifica (Petrov ex Kom.) Kom. ex Nakai; Bistorta plumosa (Small) Greene; Bistorta subauriculata Kom.; Colubrina intorta Montandon; Polygonum bistorta L.; Polygonum bistortoides Boiss.; Polygonum lapidosum (Kitag.) Kitag.; Polygonum paleaceum Wall. ex Hk. f.;