Native Plants

Plant Database

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Lytle, Melody

Polygonum bistorta

Polygonum bistorta L.

Meadow Bistort

Polygonaceae (Buckwheat Family)

Synonym(s): Bistorta officinalis

USDA Symbol: POBI5

USDA Native Status: L48 (NI), AK (N), CAN (NI)

This species includes botanical varieties that are North American natives. However, it also includes botanical varieties that are not native to North America, e.g. Polygonum bistorta var. bistorta, Meadow Bistort. Non-native taxa are not treated in this database.

From the Image Gallery

8 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Achene
Size Notes: Up to about 4 feet tall, often shorter.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Pink , Purple
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AK , MA , ME , VT
Canada: NL , NS , NT , YT

National Wetland Indicator Status

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

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.

Web Reference

Webref 61 - Alaska Wildflowers (2020)
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 bistorta in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Polygonum bistorta in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Polygonum bistorta

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-12-06
Research By: TWC Staff

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