Persicaria bistorta
Polygonaceae
Bistort, Easter-ledges, Snake-root
May to August
It is found mainly in western areas, especially Northwest.
It is scattered or absent elsewhere.
See the BSBI distribution map for Common Bistort
It grows in damp grassland, open woods, and by rivers,
paths and roads.
Garden escapes or throw out are common.
Common Bistort is a native, perennial herb growing up
to 1m, but is usually shorter.
Flowers are small (5-5mm), pink/white, in dense spikes,
with one spike per stem.
Individual flowers have 5 pink petaloid tepals and are
5mm acroaa.
They have up to 8 stamens with whilte filaments and
blue anthers..
There are 3 white styles with small pale capitate
stigmas.
Styles and stamens protrude from the flower spike.
Upper leaves are triangular and clasp the stem.
Fruits are achenes.
Lower leaves are up to 15cm, with slightly winged
petioles.
The stems are unbranched and glabrous.
In the Lake District, where some of these pictures
were taken, young leaves are eaten as Easter-ledge
pudding.
Previous page: Climbing Corydalis
Next page: Common Broomrape
Common Bistort by a roadside, Windermere
Flower stems are unbranched
Flower spike
Close-up of pink tepals, stamens and anthers
Close-up of stamen filaments and anthers
Close-up of tepals, styles and capitate stigmas
Close-up of styles and capitate stigmas
Lower leaves with winged petioles
Triangular upper leaves clasping and running down stem
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