Bistorta plumosa

Bistorta plumosa is a flowering plant species in the family Polygonaceae, or buckwheat family.[1][2] Common names for Bistorta Plumosa include meadow bistort.[3] Bistorta plumosa is monoecious, with flowers containing both male and female reproductive parts that are pollinated by insects.[4][5] Birstorta plumosa flowers annually in the summer months from May to June and can be found in habitats ranging from moist to dry sites and tundra in North America, Alaska, Yukon, the Northwest Territory, and East Asia.[6][7]

Bistorta plumosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Polygonaceae
Genus: Bistorta
Species:
B. plumosa
Binomial name
Bistorta plumosa
(Small) Greene

Description

Bistorta plumosa is a perennial herb characterized by its spiky bright pink or purplish flowers.[7][8] Bistorta plumosa grows 10–40 cm tall originating from a dense, contorted rhizome.[4][8][7] Bistorta plumosa has simple alternate leaves with winged petioles.[8] The winged petioles are sheathing at the base.[4][7] Its leaves are dark green on the surface and grey on the underside.[8] Bistorta Plumosa's blades are commonly asymmetrical with a lanceolate or ovate shape.[7] Stems range from single to several, depending on the plant.[8] The stem terminates with a cylindric to egg-shaped inflorescence that Is usually greater than 1 cm in width.[8][7][4] The flower contains tepals, stamens, and stigmas.[4][8] The tepals are oblong to elliptic with the apex either obtuse or acute.[7] The stamens can be exserted, with dark purple or black anthers.[7]

Distribution

Bistorta plumosa has an arctic-alpine distribution, and is endemic to Beringia, both Alaska and Siberia.[9] It is found at elevations ranging from 289 m to 1575 m and is more commonly found on north facing slopes.[3] Bistorta plumosa is an important plant in alpine tundra ecosystems.[10][11]

Taxonomy

Carl Linnaeus separated Bistorta into an unranked group under the genus Polygonum in 1753.[12] Giovanni Antonio Scopoli altered the taxonomy of Bistorta by categorizing it as an independent genus in 1754.[12] Bistorta plumosa was originally described as Polygonum plumosum by John Small in 1901.[13] It was then placed in the genus Bistorta by Edward Greene in 1904. [14]

Uses

Bistorta plumosa's leaves contain high vitamin A and C content and are eaten as a vegetable similar to spinach.[15] Bistorta plumosa been historically used by Alaskan Natives as a dietary aide and made into stew by boiling the roots[7] Bistorta plumosa has been used as a model organism in studies of plant physiology, specifically carbon assimilation rates.[16]

References
  1. "Polygonum bistorta L. var. plumosum (Small) B. Boivin meadow bistort". plants.usda.gov. National Resources Conservation Service. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  2. "Bistorta plumosa (Small) Greene". Alaska Wild Flowers. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  3. "Eco-atlas Page – Ecological Atlas of Denali's Flora". Retrieved 2019-11-26.
  4. "Glossary of Botanical Terms – Ecological Atlas of Denali's Flora". Retrieved 2019-10-08.
  5. "Eco-atlas Page – Ecological Atlas of Denali's Flora". Retrieved 2019-11-26.
  6. "Plants Profile for Polygonum bistorta plumosum (meadow bistort)". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
  7. "Bistorta plumosa in Flora of North America @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. Retrieved 2019-10-21.
  8. "Eco-atlas Page – Ecological Atlas of Denali's Flora". Retrieved 2019-11-26.
  9. "Eco-atlas Page – Ecological Atlas of Denali's Flora". Retrieved 2019-11-26.
  10. Walker, M. D.; Walker, D. A.; Auerbach, N. A. (1994). "Plant communities of a tussock tundra landscape in the Brooks Range Foothills, Alaska". Journal of Vegetation Science. 5 (6): 843–866. doi:10.2307/3236198. JSTOR 3236198. S2CID 85204335.
  11. Walker, D. A.; Binnian, E.; Evans, B.M.; Lederer, N. D.; Nordstrand, E.; Webber, P. J. (1989). "Terrain, vegetation and landscape evolution of the R4D research site, Brooks Range Foothills, Alaska". Ecography. 12 (3): 238–261. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0587.1989.tb00844.x. JSTOR 3682732.
  12. "Southwest Colorado Wildflowers, Bistorta". www.swcoloradowildflowers.com. Retrieved 2019-11-16.
  13. "Tropicos | Name - Polygonum plumosum Small". www.tropicos.org. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
  14. "Tropicos | Name - Bistorta plumosa (Small) Greene". www.tropicos.org. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
  15. "Eco-atlas Page – Ecological Atlas of Denali's Flora". Retrieved 2019-11-26.
  16. Oberbauer, S. F.; Oechel, W. C (1989). "Maximum CO2‐assimilation rates of vascular plants on an Alaskan arctic tundra slope". Ecography. 12 (3): 312–316. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0587.1989.tb00851.x. JSTOR 3682739.
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