Bistorta officinalis

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Bistorta officinalis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Polygonaceae
Genus: Bistorta
Species:
B. officinalis
Binomial name
Bistorta officinalis
Delarbre[1]
Synonyms[1]
  • Bistorta abbreviata Kom.
  • Bistorta carnea (K.Koch) Kom. ex Tzvelev
  • Bistorta confusa (Meisn.) Greene
  • Bistorta ensigera (Juz.) Tzvelev
  • Bistorta lapidosa Kitag.
  • Bistorta major Gray
  • Bistorta subauriculata Kom.
  • Persicaria bistorta (L.) Samp.
  • Polygonum abbreviatum Kom.
  • Polygonum bistorta L.
  • Polygonum carneum K.Koch
  • Polygonum confusum Meisn.
  • Polygonum ensigerum Juz.
  • Polygonum lapidosum (Kitag.) Kitag.
Bistorta officinalis

Bistorta officinalis (

native to Europe and northern and western Asia.[1]
Other common names include snakeroot, snake-root, snakeweed, and Easter-ledges.

Description

Bistorta officinalis is an

racemes that are club-like spikes, 5–7 cm (2–3 in) long, of rose-pink flowers.[2] The individual flowers are pink with five perianth segments, eight stamens, three fused carpels, and three free styles. The fruit is a glossy black nut. Flowering takes place in June and July.[3]
The plant grows in moist soils and under dry conditions goes dormant, losing its foliage until adequate moisture exists again.

Taxonomy

The generic placement of this species was historically in flux, having been placed in Polygonum or Persicaria but is now accepted as Bistorta.[4]

Etymology

The Latin name bistorta, from bis ("twice") + torta ("twisted"), refers to the twisted appearance of the root.

Numerous other vernacular names have been recorded for the species in historical texts, though none is used to any extent. Many of the following refer to the plant's use in making puddings:

  • Adderwort
  • Dragonwort
  • Easter giant
  • Easter ledger
  • Easter ledges
  • Easter magiant
  • Easter man-giant      
  • Gentle dock
  • Great bistort
  • Osterick
  • Oysterloit
  • Passion dock
  • Patience dock[5]      
  • Patient dock
  • Pink pokers
  • Pudding grass
  • Pudding dock
  • Red legs
  • Snakeweed
  • Twice-writhen
  • Water ledges

Distribution and habitat

Bistort is a native of Europe but is often cultivated and has become naturalized in other parts of the world such as in the United States in New England. It is typically found growing in moist meadows, nutrient-rich wooded swamps, forest edges, wetlands, parks, gardens, and disturbed ground.[6]

Cultivation

This species is grown as an ornamental garden plant, especially the form 'Superba' which has larger, more showy flowers, and has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[7] It is suitable for use as a marginal or in bog gardens. Bistort has been cultivated as a vegetable, its roots, leaves, and young shoots being steamed or boiled. Many of its occurrences in the wild may be as a garden escape.

Uses

Bistort has been used traditionally for medicinal purposes. The roots are rich in tannic and gallic acids and both these and the leaves have been used to treat wounds.[3]

In Northern England, the plant was used to make a bitter pudding in Lent from a combination of the leaves, oatmeal, egg, and other herbs. It is the principal ingredient of dock pudding or Easter-Ledge pudding.[8] The root of Bistort can be used to produce an astringent that was used in medicine. The roots are also eaten in Russia and northern Asia.[9]

Gallery

  • Common bistorta, in Valais, Switzerland
    Common bistorta, in
    Valais
    , Switzerland
  • Bistort or Easter Ledges in the spring in Scotland.
    Bistort or Easter Ledges in the spring in Scotland.
  • Common bistort stem.
    Common bistort stem.
  • The large-flowered cultivar Bistorta officinalis 'Superba' is grown as an ornamental plant.
    The large-flowered cultivar Bistorta officinalis 'Superba' is grown as an ornamental plant.
  • In Vitosha, Bulgaria
    In Vitosha, Bulgaria
  • Seeds
    Seeds

References

  1. ^ a b c "Bistorta officinalis Delarbre". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2019-03-01.
  2. ISBN 978-1405332965
    .
  3. ^ a b "Bistort: Bistorta officinalis". NatureGate. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
  4. ^ Schuster et al 2015.
  5. ^ this name is also used for Rumex patientia
  6. ^ "Bistorta officinalis (meadow bistort)". Go Botany. New England Wildflower Society. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
  7. ^ http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=3789 [dead link]
  8. ^ Easter-Ledge or Dock Pudding - Historical Foods Archived 2011-06-24 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ISBN 0415927463
    .

Bibliography

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Polygonum bistorta.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bistorta officinalis.
Wikispecies has information related to Bistorta officinalis.
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