Wildflower of the valley
Red Bistort, Mountain Fleece
Polygonum amplexicaule
- Family
- Polygonaceae (Knotweed family)
- Local name
- Kutrya and Amli
- Type
- Herb
- Height
- 30–80 cm
- Flower colour
- white
- Flowering
- July to September
About Red Bistort, Mountain Fleece
Polygonum amplexicaule is an erect rhizomatous herb of 30-80 cm height. It has thick rootstocks. Leaves are ovate-lanceolate. Flowers are deep red and flowering spikes are solitary. the specific name Amplexicaule means clasping the stem refers to the leaf bases clasping the stem. The genetic name Polygonum refers to thickened joints of the stem.
Habitat
Mountain slopes and moist places, meadows.
Uses & folklore
Leaves are used in dysentery and wounds. Roots are employed in treating cough and dysentery. Whole plant is believed to cause abortion.
What the name means
Polygonum: Greek polys + gonu; amplexicaule means "stem-clasping", after the leaves that wrap the stem.
Don't confuse it with
Polygonum polystachyum (sno 123) has many pink spikes; P. capitatum (sno 121) has round pink heads; P. amplexicaule has clasping leaves.
