Bistorta bistortoides (Pursh) Small
American bistort
Polygonaceae (Buckwheat family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Jeremy Gatten     (Photo ID #9182)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Bistorta bistortoides
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend

Species Information

General:
Perennial herb from a short, thick rhizome; stems erect, solitary to several, simple, 20-70 cm tall.
Leaves:
Basal leaves lanceolate-oblong or oblanceolate, smooth on both sides or slightly hairy below, the blades 5-20 cm long, the stalks long; stem leaves alternate, few, reduced upward, all but the lowest unstalked; stipules brownish, oblique, not ragged, 3-6 cm long.
Flowers:
Inflorescence a solitary, terminal, spike-like, many-flowered raceme, 1-5 cm long, 1.5-2.5 cm wide; perianths 4-5 mm long, white to pinkish, 5-lobed nearly to the base.
Fruits:
Achenes, 3-angled, yellowish-brown, smooth, shiny, 3.5-4 mm long.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Bistorta bistortoides

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
Value / Class

Avg

Min

Max

Elevation (metres)
1780 604 2480
Slope Gradient (%)
21 0 70

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

130 2 360
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
3 1 7
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
C
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
36
Modal BEC Zone Class
IMA

All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in

AT(2), BAFA(5), BWBS(1), ESSF(5), ICH(1), IMA(7), MH(5), SWB(7)

Habitat and Range

Moist to mesic meadows in the subalpine and alpine zones; infrequent in S BC; E to SW AB and S to MT, NM and CA.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Polygonum bistortoides Pursh