Polygonum bistorta
Bistort
a perennial member of the Polygonum genus in the family Polygonaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Polygonaceae
- Genus
- Polygonum
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 0.5 m
- Spread
- 0.5 m
- Fertility
- Insects
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Insects
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
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[17].
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Leaves - raw or cooked[11][22][23][2]. One report says that they are rather bitter[21], 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[9]. In Northern England the leaves are an ingredient of a bitter Lenten pudding, called Easter ledger pudding, that is eaten at Lent[9]. 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[19], a nutritional analysis is available[14]. Seed - raw or cooked[8]. The seed is very small and rather fiddly to utilize[K]. Root - raw or cooked[22][8][19]. Rich in starch and tannin, it is steeped in water and then roasted in order to reduce the tannin content[20][3]. It is then said to be a tasty and nutritious food[20]. The root has also been boiled or used in soups and stews[9] and can be dried then ground into a powder and used in making bread[20]. The root contains 30% starch, 1% calcium oxalate and 15 - 36% tannin[14].
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Plant part
- Root
- Plant part
- Seed
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Bistort is one of the most strongly astringent of all herbs and it is used to contract tissues and staunch blood flow[18]. The root is powerfully astringent, demulcent, diuretic, febrifuge, laxative and strongly styptic[20][14]. It is gathered in early spring when the leaves are just beginning to shoot, and then dried[20]. It is much used, both internally and externally, in the treatment of internal and external bleeding, diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera etc[20][23][4][13][5][6][8]. 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[17][18]. Externally, it makes a good wash for small burns and wounds, and is used to treat pharyngitis, stomatitis, vaginal discharge, anal fissure etc[17][18]. A mouth wash or gargle is used to treat spongy gums, mouth ulcers and sore throats[18]. The leaves are astringent and have a great reputation in the treatment of wounds[20].
- Product or use
- Astringent
- Product or use
- Demulcent
- Product or use
- Diuretic
- Product or use
- Febrifuge
- Product or use
- Laxative
- Product or use
- Styptic
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The roots contain up to 21% tannin[15].
- Product or use
- Tannin
Environment
- Range
- Northern and central Europe, including Britain, mountains of S. Europe, western and central Asia.
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- high
- Hardiness
- Zone 4+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
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.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Succeeds in an ordinary garden soil[1] but prefers a moisture retentive not too fertile soil in sun or part shade[12]. The plant repays generous treatment[1]. A very cold-hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to at least -25°c[10]. Bistort was formerly cultivated as a medicinal and edible plant[20], though it has now fallen into virtual disuse. Plants are somewhat spreading, forming quite extensive colonies[10] especially in low-lying pastures[20]. They seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[16].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Haywood. V. H. Flowering Plants of the World. Oxford University Press ISBN 0-19-217674-9
Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain.
Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3
? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X
Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Rottsieper. E.H.W. Vegetable Tannins The Forestal Land, Timber and Railways Co. Ltd. 1946-00-00
Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148
Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219060-5
Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5
Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2