Bistorta bistortoides (American bistort, western bistort, smokeweed, mountain meadow knotweed, mountain buckwheat or mountain meadow buckwheat) is a perennial herb in the buckwheat and knotweed family Polygonaceae. The species name remains unresolved.[1]
Bistorta bistortoides is distributed throughout the Mountain West in North America from Alaska and British Columbia south into California and east into the Rocky Mountains.[2][3]
Bistorta bistortoides grows from foothills to above the timberline, although plants growing above 7,500 feet (2250 m) are smaller and seldom reach more than 12 inches (30 cm) in height. Plants in other areas may reach over half a meter–1.5 feet (20–60 cm) tall. The leaves are leathery and up to 40 centimeters (3 feet) long, and are mostly basal on the stem. The dense cylindrical to oblong inflorescence is packed with small white to pinkish flowers, each a few millimeters wide and with protruding stamens.[4] Rodents and bears consume the roots, and elk and deer browse the foliage.[5]
American bistort was an important food plant used by Native Americans living in the Mountain West, including Blackfoot and Cheyenne peoples.[5] The roots are edible either raw or fire-roasted[6] with a flavor resembling chestnuts. The seeds can be dried and ground into flour and used to make bread. They were also roasted and eaten as a cracked grain.[7][8] The young leaves can be eaten raw or cooked.[5]
Bistorta bistortoides (American bistort, western bistort, smokeweed, mountain meadow knotweed, mountain buckwheat or mountain meadow buckwheat) is a perennial herb in the buckwheat and knotweed family Polygonaceae. The species name remains unresolved.
Bistorta bistortoides is distributed throughout the Mountain West in North America from Alaska and British Columbia south into California and east into the Rocky Mountains.
Bistorta bistortoides grows from foothills to above the timberline, although plants growing above 7,500 feet (2250 m) are smaller and seldom reach more than 12 inches (30 cm) in height. Plants in other areas may reach over half a meter–1.5 feet (20–60 cm) tall. The leaves are leathery and up to 40 centimeters (3 feet) long, and are mostly basal on the stem. The dense cylindrical to oblong inflorescence is packed with small white to pinkish flowers, each a few millimeters wide and with protruding stamens. Rodents and bears consume the roots, and elk and deer browse the foliage.
American bistort was an important food plant used by Native Americans living in the Mountain West, including Blackfoot and Cheyenne peoples. The roots are edible either raw or fire-roasted with a flavor resembling chestnuts. The seeds can be dried and ground into flour and used to make bread. They were also roasted and eaten as a cracked grain. The young leaves can be eaten raw or cooked.
Polygonum bistortoides est une plante vivace du genre Polygonum présente dans les régions montagneuses de l'ouest de l'Amérique du Nord au Canada et aux États-Unis.
Polygonum bistortoides pousse des pieds des montagnes jusqu'au-dessus de la limite des arbres. En altitude, les plants sont toutefois plus petits. À l'ouest de l'Amérique du Nord, la plante est présente de la Californie à la Colombie-Britannique. Plus à l'est, elle est présente de l'Alberta au Nouveau-Mexique[1]. Elle est ainsi présente dans les régions alpine et subalpine des massifs montagneux de la chaîne des Cascades comme dans le parc national du Mont Rainier.
La plante peut atteindre jusque 50 cm de haut. Les feuilles sont tannées et peuvent atteindre 40 cm de long. La plupart des feuilles partent de la base de la tige. L'inflorescence est cylindrique et se compose de petites fleurs blanches et roses. Chaque fleur mesure quelques millimètres.
Polygonum bistortoides était une plante importante pour les peuplades amérindiennes de la région. Ses racines sont en effet comestibles et ont un goût de châtaigne. Les semences peuvent être consommées grillées mais peuvent aussi être séchées, pilées et utilisées pour faire une sorte de pain.
Polygonum bistortoides est une plante vivace du genre Polygonum présente dans les régions montagneuses de l'ouest de l'Amérique du Nord au Canada et aux États-Unis.
