XBistorta bistortoides - American BistortX
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American Bistort -or- Western Bistort -or- Smokeweed -or- Mountain Meadow Knotweed (Bistorta bistortoides), family Polygonaceae (Buckwheat)
A pretty white cone, with yellow tipped stamens - each on it's own stalk - will easily grace an alpine meadow and delight you! Also known as Polygonum bistortoides.
USES:
One source of ours, the book SOUTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN WILFLOWERS, offers that the roots of this species are edible and best if roasted. Native American Ethonobotany shows these uses by native americans: Miwok - Poultice of root used on sores and boils. Blackfoot Roots used in soups and stews. Cheyenne - Fresh roots boiled with meat, other foos uses.
Note the information that the genus is ambiguous botanically. This is from WIKIPEDIA 'Persicaria bistorta (Bistort or Common Bistort) is a herbaceous flowering plant found throughout Europe. The generic placement of this species is in flux. While treated here as in Persicaria, it has also been placed in Polygonum or Bistorta. The Latin name "bistorta" refers to the twisted appearance of the root. The plant was used to make a bitter pudding in Lent from a combination of the plant's leaves, oatmeal, egg and other herbs. It is the principal ingredient of dock pudding. Numerous other vernacular names have been recorded for the species in historical texts, though none is used to any extent. Many of the following refer to the plant's use in making puddings: Adderwort, Dragonwort, Easter giant, Easter ledger, Easter ledges, Easter magiant, Easter man-giant, Gentle dock, Great bistort, Osterick, Oysterloit, Passion dock, Patience dock (this name is also used for Rumex patientia), Patient dock, Pink pokers, Pudding grass, Pudding dock, Red legs, Snakeweed, Twice-writhen, Water ledges.' End quote.
Flower -
Plant location: We saw these cheery looking blooms at Mt Evans and in the Rocky Mountain National Park - both at high elevations - in July 2008.Plant
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Bloom season: Late spring through summer.Foliage
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