W44 



BISTORT 



Bistor'ta bistortoi'des, syn. Poly'gonum bistortoi'des 



Stamens 8, protruding 



Outer flower parts (sepals) 5, 

 petal-like, joined near base, 

 petals lacking 



Bract thin, brownish, at base 

 of flower, numerous in the flower 

 cluster 



" Seed " (achene) triangular, 

 tipped by 3-parted, threadlike 

 stalk (style) 



Stem smooth, slender 



Stem leaves small, stalkless, 

 with rather open, oblique, cylin- 

 drical, membranous sheaths at 

 bases 



Flowers white to rose-colored, 

 in dense, terminal, spikelike 

 clusters % to 2^ in. long, the 

 individual flowers with brown- 

 ish bracts 



Basal leaves large, long- 

 stalked, usually smooth, up to 

 10 in. long, lance-shaped, ob- 

 long, or linear-oblong 



Rootstock underground, 

 woody, twisted, horizontal, 

 often tuberous 



Roots fibrous 



