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Weyand, Phyllis

Polygonum viviparum

Polygonum viviparum L.

Alpine Bistort

Polygonaceae (Buckwheat Family)

Synonym(s): Bistorta vivipara, Persicaria vivipara, Polygonum fugax, Polygonum macounii, Polygonum viviparum var. alpinum, Polygonum viviparum var. macounii

USDA Symbol: POVI3

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N), GL (N), SPM (N)

From the Image Gallery

2 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Achene
Size Notes: Up to about 18 inches tall.
Leaf: Green

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep

Distribution

USA: AK , CO , ID , ME , MI , MN , MT , NH , NM , NV , OR , SD , UT , VT , WA , WY
Canada: AB , BC , MB , NB , NL , NS , NT , NU , ON , QC , SK , YT

Growing Conditions

Water Use: High
Light Requirement: Sun
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Larval Host: Mountain Fritillary (Boloria napaea), Bog Fritillary (Boloria eunomia)

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Bog Fritillary
(Boloria eunomia)

Adult Food Source
Larval Host

Learn more at BAMONA

Mountain Fritillary
(Boloria alaskensis)

Larval Host

Learn more at BAMONA

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:		FAC	FAC			FACW			FACW	FAC

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

Bibliography

Bibref 1186 - Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Bibref 1185 - Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Polygonum viviparum in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Polygonum viviparum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Polygonum viviparum

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-05-02
Research By: TWC Staff

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