Bistorta

The bistort is also known as snakeroot and snakeweed, because of its thick, twisted roots. The genus was first identified in 1743 by the famous botanist Carl Linnaeus. In some regions of England, bistort is associated with the Easter holiday.

Alpine bistort (Bistorta vivipara subsp. vivipara) is interesting because its roots grow in mutually beneficial relationships with certain species of fungi. This plant was grown as a crop by the Samoyed people of Siberia. Reindeer and rock ptarmigans are very fond of the starch-rich bulbils of this plant.

Serpent grass is not only very pretty but also an important food source for wild animals, including the snow goose, rock ptarmigans, and reindeer. The perennial herb grows at high elevations and can be found in the Alps, Pyrenees, and Caucasus. One of its not-so-pretty traits is its odor, which gives it the nickname "miner's toes."

Bistorta manshuriensis (Hangul: 범꼬리), Asian bistort, is an unresolved name for a proposed flowering plant species in the buckwheat family Polygonaceae. It is a perennial herbaceous plant found in mountain valleys and lowlands in Korea and Japan. It grows well in sunny or slightly shaded places. It grows up to 30 centimetres (12 in) - 80 centimetres (31 in).

Bistorta bistortoides is distributed throughout the Mountain West in North America. The leaves are leathery and up to 40 cm long, and are mostly basal on the stem. The dense cylindrical to oblong inflorescence is packed with small white to pinkish flowers, each a few millimeters wide.

Common bistort (Bistorta officinalis) is an herbaceous perennial that is native to Europe and parts of northern and western Asia. Each plant produces a long flower spike that is a cluster of pale-pink flowers. The roots of this plant are often thick and twisted, earning it another common name of snakeroot.

Red bistort (Bistorta amplexicaulis) is also known as mountain fleece. It grows in and around the Himalaya mountains. As a general rule red bistort needs plenty of moisture and grows best when out of direct sunlight. The flowers bloom from summer to fall and often attract butterflies and birds.

The himalayan bistort provides effective ground cover and helps prevent erosion. This evergreen perennial produces pale pink flowers during the summer that transition to deep red over time. Since its native range is very high-elevation, this is a good choice for gardens in mountainous areas. Plus, himalayan bistort can spread organically without completely overtaking the landscape.

Species of bistorta suffulta are perennial herbaceous plants. Their roots are fibrous forming rhizomes. They have erect unbranched stems. Their leaves are usually longer than wide mostly basal but with some arranged alternately on the stems. The inflorescences are spikelike. The individual flowers have five white to purple-pink (rarely red) tepals. The flowers are bisexual although the 5–8 stamens are sometimes poorly developed. There are three styles. The fruits are in the form of achenes that are brown or dark brown unwinged and three-angled. As of winter 2019 about 42 species are accepted. Bistorta suffulta species are native throughout much of the Northern Hemisphere as far south as Mexico in North America and Thailand in Asia.

Species of meadow bistort are perennial herbaceous plants. Their roots are fibrous forming rhizomes. They have erect unbranched stems. Their leaves are usually longer than wide mostly basal but with some arranged alternately on the stems. The inflorescences are spikelike. The individual flowers have five white to purple-pink (rarely red) tepals. The flowers are bisexual although the 5–8 stamens are sometimes poorly developed. There are three styles. The fruits are in the form of achenes that are brown or dark brown unwinged and three-angled. As of winter 2019 about 42 species are accepted. Meadow bistort species are native throughout much of the Northern Hemisphere as far south as Mexico in North America and Thailand in Asia.

Species of bistorta vacciniifolia are perennial herbaceous plants. Their roots are fibrous forming rhizomes. They have erect unbranched stems. Their leaves are usually longer than wide mostly basal but with some arranged alternately on the stems. The inflorescences are spikelike. The individual flowers have five white to purple-pink (rarely red) tepals. The flowers are bisexual although the 5–8 stamens are sometimes poorly developed. There are three styles. The fruits are in the form of achenes that are brown or dark brown unwinged and three-angled. As of winter 2019 about 42 species are accepted. Bistorta vacciniifolia species are native throughout much of the Northern Hemisphere as far south as Mexico in North America and Thailand in Asia.