Knotweed, Mountain Meadow and Alpine Bistort

Polygonum aviculare

There is very little difference in the appearance of the other common knot weed or bistort             Polygonum arenastrum

The edibility of the American bistorts starchy root stock was known to the Blackfoot, Cheyenne and most of the other peoples that are now usually considered to be indigenous to North America. It definitely should be known to bushcraft practitioners and all, would be, disaster emergency survivors as well.

Reasons: The plant is plentiful, easy to identify, and above all nutritious. The roots are eaten by rodents and bears, The folage elk wapiti and deer The generic name Polygonum, comes from the Greek prefex polly-many-and the word gonu-knee- referring in this case, to the characteristic swelling at each node of the flower stem where the leaf is attached. It is easy to understand where the common name  “knotweed” comes from

Common names include knotweed, knotgrass, bistort, tear-thumb, mile-a-minute, and several others. There have been various opinions about how broadly the genus should be defined. 

For example, Buckwheat has sometimes been included in the genus. 

The genus primarily grows in northern temperate regions. They vary widely from prostrate herbaceous annual plants under 5 cm high, others erect herbaceous perennial plants growing to 12 feet, and yet others perennial woody vines growing to 90 feet in trees. Several are aquatic, growing as floating plants in ponds.

The smooth-edged leaves range from 1/2 inch to 1 foot, and vary in shape between species from narrow lanceolate to oval, broad triangular, heart-shaped, or arrowhead forms. The stems are often reddish or red-speckled. The small flowers are, pink, white, or greenish, forming in summer in dense clusters from the leaf joints or stem apices.

The most common bistort in Western Canada is Alpine             bistort (Bistorta vivipara) ; it grows in moist open area in mountain, Alpine and sub-alpine slopes

Mountain Meadow Bistort (Polygonum bistorta)is slightly different. It has pink and white flowers, and they grow 5-10 inches high. You can usually find them in bogs or meadows. The root is rich in starch and lightly astringent; you may find it more palatable if soaked in water for several hours before cooking. 

1. Leaves and shoots of either are edible raw.
2. The rhizome can be eaten raw. 
3. Small bulblets can be eaten raw.
4. Warning: When eaten raw; and in large quantities, plants act as a mild laxative and can cause diarrhoea.
5. Or, it can be steeped in water, roasted/dried, and ground into meal/flour.
6. Plant is rich in vitamin C       

©Al (Alex-Alexander)D Girvan. All rights Reserved