Bistorta plumosa

(Small) Greene

Leafl. Bot. Observ. Crit. 1: 18. 1904.

Basionym: Polygonum plumosum Small Bull. New York Bot. Gard. 2: 166. 1901
Synonyms: Bistorta major subsp. plumosum (Small) H. Hara Polygonum bistorta subsp. plumosum (Small) Hultén Polygonum bistorta var. plumosum (Small) B. Boivin
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 5. Treatment on page 596. Mentioned on page 594.

Plants (8–)10–40(–50) cm; rhizomes contorted. Stems 1(–2). Leaves: ocrea brown, cylindric, 5–40 mm, margins oblique, glabrous; petiole attached to sheath 10–45 mm, unwinged or scarcely winged distally, 30–220 mm; blade lanceolate-elliptic to ovate, 2–12 × 0.5–3 cm, base tapered, rarely truncate, often asymmetric, margins entire, sometimes wavy, apex rounded to acute, abaxial face pubescent with whitish or brownish hairs, glaucous, adaxial face glabrous, not glaucous; cauline leaves 1–3, petiolate proximally, sessile distally, gradually reduced distally, blade triangular-lanceolate to linear. Inflorescences 1, short-cylindric to ovoid, 15–70 × 10–15 mm, bulblets absent; peduncle 1–8 cm. Pedicels ascending or spreading, 2–7 mm. Flowers 1–2 per ocreate fascicle; perianth bright pink or purplish pink; tepals oblong to elliptic, 3–4 mm, apex obtuse to acute; stamens included or exserted; anthers purple to blackish. Achenes brown, 2.5–4 × 1.2–2 mm, shiny, smooth. 2n = 72.


Phenology: Flowering May–Jun.
Habitat: Fields, meadows, arctic and alpine tundra, heathlands
Elevation: 0-2000 m

Distribution

V5 1212-distribution-map.gif

B.C., N.W.T., Yukon, Alaska, e Asia.

Discussion

Leaves of Bistorta plumosa are used as a dietary aid and consumed as a vegetable, and roots are boiled and added to stews by Alaskan Native Americans (D. E. Moerman 1998).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Bistorta plumosa"
Craig C. Freeman +  and Harold R. Hinds† +
(Small) Greene +
Polygonum plumosum +
B.C. +, N.W.T. +, Yukon +, Alaska +  and e Asia. +
0-2000 m +
Fields, meadows, arctic and alpine tundra, heathlands +
Flowering May–Jun. +
Leafl. Bot. Observ. Crit. +
Bistorta major subsp. plumosum +, Polygonum bistorta subsp. plumosum +  and Polygonum bistorta var. plumosum +
Bistorta plumosa +
Bistorta +
species +