Bistort

Botanical Name: Polygonum bistorta/Persicaria bistorta

Family: Polygonaceae

Other Names: Adderwort, dragonwort, Easter giant, Easter ledges, Easter manigant, English serpent tree, English serpentery, oderwort, osterick, passion dock, passions, patience dock, poor man cabbage, red legs, snakeroot, snake weed, sweet dock, twice writhen

Habitat: Grassland, mountains, roadsides, stream banks

Description: Hardy hairless perennial. 90cm/3ft.Upright, branching stem Broad, oval leaves, silvery hairs on the veins beneath. Flowers pink spikes, June-August

Native to: Europe and Asia

Parts Used: The whole herb apart from the berries

Cultivation: Plant October-March. Rich, moist soil partial shade

Propagation: By division October -March

Actions: Anti-catarrhal, anti-diarrhoeal, anti-haemorrhagic, anti-inflammatory, astringent, demulcent

Constituents: 15-20% tannins, starch, protein, traces of anthraquiinone

Skin: Eczema

Circulatory, joint muscle: Arthritis, rheumatism

Respiratory: Coughs, sore throats

Digestive: Dysentery, jaundice, diarrhoea

Other Notes: Leaves traditionally used in Easter puddings Its name comes from the Greek "polys" meaning many and "gonu" meaning joint

Bistorta means twice twisted in Latin and refers to the shape of the rootstock

Caution: Berries are poisonous