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American bistort, smokeweed, western bistort

European bistort, meadow bistort

Habit Plants (10–)20–70(–75) cm; rhizomes contorted. Plants (20–)30–100(–120) cm; rhizomes contorted.
Stems

1–3.

1(–2).

Leaves

ocrea brown, cylindric, 9–25(–32) mm, margins oblique, glabrous;

petiole attached to sheath 10–35(–50) mm, usually wingless, rarely winged distally, (10–)30–70(–110) mm;

blade elliptic to oblong-lanceolate or oblong-oblanceolate, (3.5–)5–22 × 0.8–4.8 cm, base tapered to rounded, rarely abruptly truncate or cuneate, often asymmetric, margins entire, sometimes wavy, apex usually acute to acuminate, rarely obtuse, abaxial face glabrous or pubescent with whitish or brownish hairs, glaucous, adaxial face glabrous, not glaucous;

cauline leaves 2–6, petiolate proximally, sessile distally, gradually reduced distally, blade elliptic or lanceolate to linear-lanceolate.

ocrea brown, cylindric, 15–50(–70) mm, margins oblique, glabrous;

petiole attached proximally to sheath 10–45(–70) mm, prominently winged distally, 100–260 mm, wing 1–6(–12) cm;

blade lanceolate to ovate, 6–15(–21) × 2.5–9(–10) cm, base abruptly contracted, truncate to cuneate, often asymmetric, margins entire or obscurely and irregularly repand, usually wavy, apex acute to acuminate, rarely obtuse, abaxial face glabrous or pubescent with whitish or brownish hairs, glaucous, adaxial face glabrous, not glaucous;

cauline leaves 3–6, petiolate proximally, sessile distally, gradually reduced distally, blade triangular-lanceolate to linear.

Inflorescences

1(–2), short-cylindric to ovoid, (10–)20–40(–50) × (8–)12–25 mm, bulblets absent;

peduncle 1–10 cm.

1, short-cylindric to ovoid, 35–65 × 12–20 mm, bulblets absent;

peduncle 1–15 cm.

Pedicels

ascending or spreading, 2–8(–11) mm.

ascending, 1.5–7 mm.

Flowers

1–2 per ocreate fascicle;

perianth white or pale pink;

tepals oblong, 4–5 mm, apex obtuse to acute;

stamens exserted;

anthers yellow, elliptic.

1–2 per ocreate fascicle;

perianth pink;

tepals elliptic to ovate, 3–4 mm, apex obtuse;

stamens exserted;

anthers pink to purple.

Achenes

yellowish brown or olive-brown, 3.2–4.2 × 1.3–2 mm, shiny, smooth.

brown, 3.3–4.5 × 2.5–3 mm, shiny, smooth.

2n

= 24.

= 48.

Bistorta bistortoides

Bistorta officinalis

Phenology Flowering Jul–Sep. Flowering May–Aug.
Habitat Streambanks, moist or swampy meadows, alpine slopes Fields, meadows
Elevation 1300-3800 m (4300-12500 ft) 10-200 m (0-700 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CA; CO; ID; MT; NM; NV; OR; UT; WA; WY; AB; BC
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
MA; ME; VT; NF; NS; Europe; Asia [Introduced in North America]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Infrequent specimens of Bistorta bistortoides have basal leaf blades that are lance-ovate and abruptly contracted at the bases, and petioles distinctly winged distally, similar to those of B. officinalis.

Roots of western bistort were used in soups and stews by the Blackfoot, boiled with meat by the Cherokee, and used in a poultice that was applied to sores and boils by the Miwok (D. E. Moerman 1998).

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Chromosome numbers of 2n = 24, 44, 46, 48, and ca. 50 have been reported for Bistorta officinalis (B. Jonsell and T. Karlsson 2000+, vol. 1). A count of 2n = 48 made by Á. Löve and D. Löve (1988) was from a plant from California; it probably was cultivated.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 5, p. 596. FNA vol. 5, p. 596.
Parent taxa Polygonaceae > subfam. Polygonoideae > Bistorta Polygonaceae > subfam. Polygonoideae > Bistorta
Sibling taxa
B. officinalis, B. plumosa, B. vivipara
B. bistortoides, B. plumosa, B. vivipara
Synonyms Polygonum bistortoides, B. bistortoides var. oblongifolia, Persicaria bistortoides, Polygonum bistortoides var. linearifolium, Polygonum bistortoides var. oblongifolium Polygonum bistorta, B. major, Persicaria bistorta
Name authority (Pursh) Small: Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 33: 57. (1906) Delarbre: Fl. Auvergne ed. 2, 2: 516. (1800)
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