Bistort

LEAVES : Alternate, triangular to arrow-shaped.

PLANT HEIGHT : 40–100cm.

FLOWER SIZE : Flowerhead 3–10cm long.

FRUIT : Small, triangular, one-seeded nut.

FLOWERING TIME : June–October.

SIMILAR SPECIES : Amphibious Bistort in its terrestrial form, which has rounded leaves; Redshank, which has much smaller leaves and flowerheads.
One of the most attractive members of the dock family, Bistort is recognizable by its dense, terminal clusters of pink flowers on long, slender stems, often seen en masse. Each individual flower has five petals and eight protruding stamens. The leaves of Bistort are almost triangular, the lower ones large, with long, winged stalks, while the upper leaves are shorter and clasp the stem, appearing arrow-shaped. The roots of Bistort are twice twisted (bistorta in Latin) and said to resemble two snakes, which is why Bistort was once thought to be a cure for snake bites.