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alpine bistort, serpent-grass, viviparous bistort

Habit Plants (2–)8–30(–45) cm; rhizomes sometimes contorted.
Stems

1–2(–3).

Leaves

ocrea brown, cylindric, 4–22(–27) mm, margins strongly oblique, glabrous;

petiole attached to sheath 6–20(–45) mm, unwinged distally, 5–110(–200) mm;

blade linear to lanceolate or oblong-ovate, 1–8(–10) × 0.5–1.7(–2.3) cm, base cuneate to rounded or cordate, often asymmetric, margins entire, usually revolute, not wavy, apex obtuse to acute, abaxial face pubescent with whitish or brownish hairs, glaucous, adaxial face glabrous, not glaucous;

cauline leaves 2–4, petiolate proximally, sessile distally, gradually reduced distally, blade linear-lanceolate to linear.

Inflorescences

1, narrowly elongate-cylindric, (15–)20–90 × 4–10 mm, usually bearing pink to brown or purple pyriform bulblets proximally and sterile flowers distally;

peduncle 1–5 cm.

Pedicels

ascending or spreading, (1–)2–5 mm.

Flowers

1–2 per ocreate fascicle;

perianth greenish proximally, usually white or pink distally, rarely red;

tepals obovate, 2.1–4 mm, apex obtuse to acute;

stamens included or exserted, some or all often poorly developed;

anthers reddish to purple.

Achenes

rarely produced, dark brown, 2.2–3.3 × 0.9–1.5 mm, dull, granular.

2n

= 96, 120.

Bistorta vivipara

Phenology Flowering Jun–Sep.
Habitat Moist to wet spruce or mixed woods along shorelines, moist subalpine woods and meadows, alpine meadows, heaths, nutrient-rich sites
Elevation 0-4000 m (0-13100 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AK; AZ; CO; ID; ME; MI; MN; MT; NH; NM; NV; OR; SD; UT; VT; WA; WY; AB; BC; LB; MB; NB; NT; NU; ON; QC; SK; YT; SPM; Greenland; Europe; Asia
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Discussion

Bistorta vivipara is highly variable morphologically and cytologically. Robust plants with large leaves, compact spikes, and persistent bulblets have been named subsp. macounii. Abortion of stamens, production of bulblets, and the rarity of fruits suggest that reproduction is largely asexual; fruits and seedlings are produced rarely (N. Söyrinki 1989). B. Jonsell and T. Karlsson (2000+, vol. 1) summarized chromosome numbers that include 2n = 66, ca. 77, ca. 80, 88, 99, ca. 100, 110, 120, and ca. 132.

A. E. Porsild and W. J. Cody (1980) reported that indigenous peoples of the circumpolar region eat the starchy, slightly astringent rootstocks raw or cooked, and preserve them in seal oil or by freezing. E. Hultén (1968) reported that the rootstocks taste like almonds.

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

Source FNA vol. 5, p. 595.
Parent taxa Polygonaceae > subfam. Polygonoideae > Bistorta
Sibling taxa
B. bistortoides, B. officinalis, B. plumosa
Synonyms Polygonum viviparum, B. vivipara subsp. macounii, Persicaria vivipara, Polygonum viviparum var. macounii
Name authority (Linnaeus) Delarbre: Fl. Auvergne ed. 2, 2: 516. (1800)
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