Polygonum bistorta - Bistort

Family:	Polygonaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.5
Width:	0.5
Synonyms:	Bistorta major. S.F.Gray.
Range:	Northern and central Europe, including Britain, mountains of S. Europe, western and central Asia.

Polygonum bistorta (Bistort) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.5m and a width of 0.5m . It has a hardness rating of 4.
Bistort will flower in December to March. the seeds ripen from February to April
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Insects

Soil Information

Bistort will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Bistort prefers soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Bistort can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Damp meadows and by water, especially on acid soils[13, 17].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Can be planted in Cultivated Beds
• Suits a meadow
• A bog garden plant

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in an ordinary garden soil[1] but prefers a moisture retentive not too fertile soil in sun or part shade[200]. The plant repays generous treatment[1]. A very cold-hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to at least -25°c[187]. Bistort was formerly cultivated as a medicinal and edible plant[4], though it has now fallen into virtual disuse. Plants are somewhat spreading, forming quite extensive colonies[187] especially in low-lying pastures[4]. They seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[233].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 3/5
Leaves - raw or cooked[2, 7, 9, 103]. One report says that they are rather bitter[5], but we have found them to have a fairly mild flavour, especially when the leaves are young, though the texture is somewhat chewy when they are eaten raw[7, K]. They make an excellent substitute for spinach[183]. In Northern England the leaves are an ingredient of a bitter Lenten pudding, called Easter ledger pudding, that is eaten at Lent[183]. The leaves are available from late winter in most years and can be eaten until the early autumn though they become much tougher as the season progresses[K]. The leaves are a good source of vitamins A and C[257], a nutritional analysis is available[218]. Seed - raw or cooked[172]. The seed is very small and rather fiddly to utilize[K]. Root - raw or cooked[7, 172, 257]. Rich in starch and tannin, it is steeped in water and then roasted in order to reduce the tannin content[4, 115]. It is then said to be a tasty and nutritious food[4]. The root has also been boiled or used in soups and stews[183] and can be dried then ground into a powder and used in making bread[4]. The root contains 30% starch, 1% calcium oxalate and 15 - 36% tannin[218].

• Leaves -
• Root - includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.
• Seed - includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 3/5
Bistort is one of the most strongly astringent of all herbs and it is used to contract tissues and staunch blood flow[254]. The root is powerfully astringent, demulcent, diuretic, febrifuge, laxative and strongly styptic[4, 218]. It is gathered in early spring when the leaves are just beginning to shoot, and then dried[4]. It is much used, both internally and externally, in the treatment of internal and external bleeding, diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera etc[4, 9, 13, 21, 147, 165, 172]. It is also taken internally in the treatment of a wide range of complaints including catarrh, cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, peptic ulcers, ulcerative colitis and excessive menstruation[238, 254]. Externally, it makes a good wash for small burns and wounds, and is used to treat pharyngitis, stomatitis, vaginal discharge, anal fissure etc[238, 254]. A mouth wash or gargle is used to treat spongy gums, mouth ulcers and sore throats[254]. The leaves are astringent and have a great reputation in the treatment of wounds[4].

• Astringent - Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
• Demulcent - Soothes, lubricates and softens irritated tissues, especially the mucous membranes.
• Diuretic - Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.
• Febrifuge - Reduces fevers.
• Laxative - Stimulates bowel movements in a fairly gentle manner.
• Styptic - An astringent that stops bleeding by contracting the blood vessels.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. Germination is usually free and easy. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer if they have reached sufficient size. If not, overwinter them in a cold frame and plant them out the following spring after the last expected frosts. Division in spring or autumn. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.

Known Hazards

Although no specific mention has been made for this species, there have been reports that some members of this genus can cause photosensitivity in susceptible people. Many species also contain oxalic acid (the distinctive lemony flavour of sorrel) - whilst not toxic this substance can bind up other minerals making them unavailable to the body and leading to mineral deficiency. Having said that, a number of common foods such as sorrel and rhubarb contain oxalic acid and the leaves of most members of this genus are nutritious and beneficial to eat in moderate quantities. Cooking the leaves will reduce their content of oxalic acid. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones or hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet since it can aggravate their condition[238].

Other Uses

The roots contain up to 21% tannin[223].

• Tannin - An astringent substance obtaied from plants, it is used medicinally, as a dye and mordant, stabilizer in pesticide etc.

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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