Seasonal Wild Flowers

Amphibious Bistort

Persicaria amphibia

Polygonaceae

Late June to September

It is found throughout the country except for parts of the

North and the far Southwest.

See the BSBI distribution map for Amphibious Bistort

It can be a floating plant on lakes, rivers and ditches,

and a terrestrial plant at the edge of water bodies and

damp places.

Amphibious Bistort is a native, rhizomatous, perennial

herb, which can be a floating aquatic or an erect

terrestrial plant, growing up to 75cm.

The aquatic plant can form extensive floating mats by

rooting at the nodes.

The terrestrial plant roots at the lower nodes only.

Aquatic plants flower more extensively than the

terrestial ones.

Flowers are in dense spikes up to 5cm long.

Individual flowers have 5 pink or red petals, 5

stamens and 2 white, filamentous styles, fused at the

base and with white stigmas.

Leaves are lanceolate.

Lower leaves have longer petioles.

Amphibious Bistort on a fishing lake

Flower spikes

Close-up of flowers

Floating leaves

Floating network

Erect terrestrial plant