Alpine Bistort (Plants of Abisko National Park)

Alpine Bistort

Persicaria vivipara

Summary ⁴

Persicaria vivipara is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant in the knotweed and buckwheat family Polygonaceae, commonly known as alpine bistort. Scientific synonyms include Bistorta vivipara and Polygonum viviparum. It is common all over the high Arctic through Europe, North America, and temperate and tropical Asia. Its range stretches further south in high mountainous areas such as the Alps, Carpathians, Pyrenees, Caucasus, and the Tibetan Plateau.

General description ⁵

Herbs perennial. Rhizomes black-brown, contorted, large, 1-2 cm in diameter. Stems usually 2 or 3 from rhizome, erect, 15-60 cm tall, simple. Basal leaves long petiolate; leaf blade ovate-lanceolate, or oblong, 3-10 cm long, 0.5-3 cm wide, leathery, base rounded or cuneate, margin slightly involute, apex acute. Cauline leaves shortly petiolate or subsessile; leaf blade lanceolate smaller than basal ones; ocrea: lower part green, upper part brown, tubular, oblique, membranous, not ciliate. Inflorescence terminal, spicate, lower part with bulbils; bracts ovate, membranous. Perianth white or pinkish, 5-parted; tepals broadly elliptic, 2-3 mm. Stamens usually 8. Styles 3, connate at base. Achenes included in persistent perianth, dark brown, shiny, ovoid, trigonous, ca. 2 mm.