Polygonum bistorta
| Polygonum bistorta | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 4 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 2' |
| Width: | 2' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer-Early Fall |
| Meadows | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Polygonum bistorta (common name: bistort)
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.
Cultivation: Succeeds in an ordinary garden soil[1] but prefers a moisture retentive not too fertile soil in sun or part shade[2]. The plant repays generous treatment[1].
A very cold-hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to at least -25°c[3].
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[3] especially in low-lying pastures[4]. They seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[5].
Range: Northern and central Europe, including Britain, mountains of S. Europe, western and central Asia.
Habitat: Damp meadows and by water, especially on acid soils[6][7].
Edibility: Leaves - raw or cooked[8][9][10][11]. One report says that they are rather bitter[12], 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[9][K]. They make an excellent substitute for spinach[13]. In Northern England the leaves are an ingredient of a bitter Lenten pudding, called Easter ledger pudding, that is eaten at Lent[13]. 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[14], a nutritional analysis is available[15].
Seed - raw or cooked[16]. The seed is very small and rather fiddly to utilize[K].
Root - raw or cooked[9][16][14]. Rich in starch and tannin, it is steeped in water and then roasted in order to reduce the tannin content[4][17]. It is then said to be a tasty and nutritious food[4]. The root has also been boiled or used in soups and stews[13] 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[15].
Medicinal: 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[4][15]. 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][10][6][19][20][21][16]. 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[22][18]. Externally, it makes a good wash for small burns and wounds, and is used to treat pharyngitis, stomatitis, vaginal discharge, anal fissure etc[22][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[4].
Usage: The roots contain up to 21% tannin[23].
Pollinators: Insects
Notes: This whole genus must have very good potential. This is one of the easiest to grow and has quite tasty leaves as well as seeds.
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Seed Ripens: Late Summer-Mid Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
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._x005F
Many species also contain oxalic acid (the distinctive lemony flavour of sorrel) - whil
Also Known As: Bistorta major. S.F.Gray.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Perennials - The Definitve Reference. Pan Books, 1991.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Triska, Jan. Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn, 1975.
- ↑ Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Chiej, Roberto. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald, 1984.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Launert, Edmund. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn, 1981.
- ↑ Heywood, Vernon. Flowering Plants of the World. Oxford University Press.
- ↑ Mabey, Richard. Food for Free. Collins, 1974.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Schofield, Janice. Discovering Wild Plants.
- ↑ Sowerby, John. The Useful Plants of Great Britain. 1862.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 Chevallier, Andrew. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Dorling Kindersley, 1996.
- ↑ Lust, John. The Herb Book. Bantam Books, 1983.
- ↑ Revolutionary Health Committee of Hunan Province. A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press.
- ↑ Mills, Simon. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ Rottsieper, E. Vegetable Tannins. The Forestal Land, 1946.