UW Burke Herbarium species comparison

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Bistorta bistortoides

Bistorta officinalis

American bistort, western bistort
Habit Perennial from a short rhizome with 1 to several erect flowering stems 10-30 inches tall.
Leaves

Mostly basal, with long petioles, the blade elliptic to oblong-lanceolate, up to 1.5 dm. long, with brownish stipules 3-6 cm. long, not lacerate; the few small stem leaves sessile and somewhat cordate at the base.

Flowers

In spike-like terminal racemes, many-flowered, 2-4 cm. long and 1.5-2 cm. wide;

perianth 4-5 mm. long, divided most of its length into 5 oblong, equal, white to pink segments;

stamens 8, on long filaments.

Bistorta bistortoides

Bistorta officinalis
Identification notes Achene with three sharp angles, yellowish-brown, smooth and shining, about 4 mm. long.
Flowering time May-August
Habitat Streambanks and moist or swampy meadows, middle elevations in the mountains to alpine slopes.
Distribution
Occurring on both sides of the Cascades in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
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Origin Native
Conservation status Not of concern
Sibling taxa
B. vivipara
B. bistortoides, B. vivipara
Web links 
Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from the University of Washington's Burke Herbarium.



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