Polygonum Bistorta. The greater Bistort or 
Snake-weed. 
POLYGONUM LinrueiGen. PI. Octandria trigynia. 
Rati Synopfis, Genus quintum. Herbat flore imperfecto seu stamineo, (vel apetalo 
POTIUS.) 
POLYGONUM Bijiorta caule fimpliciffimo, monoftachyo, foliis ovatis in petiolum decurrentibus. Limitet 
Syjl. Ve get ab. p. 31 1. 
POLYGONUM radice lignofa contorta, fpica ovata, foliorum petiolis alatis. Haller. Hijl. v. 2. 258. 
COLUBRINA Seu Serpentaria foemina. Fufchti icon. 774. 
SERPENTARIA mas five Biftorta. Fufchii icon. 773. 
BISTORTA major radice minus intorta. Bauhin. Pin. ic)2. 
BISTORTA major radice magis intorta. Bauhin. Pin. 192. 
BISTORTA major Gerard, emac 399. major vulgaris Parkin} 'on 391. Rati Synopjis 147. Hudfon. FI. Angi. 
146. Flor. Dan. Ic. 421. 
RADIX perennis, craffitie digiti, plus minufve in- 
torta, externe cafianea, interne carnea, fibris 
et ftolonibus plurimis inftru&a. 
CAULIS pedalis aut bipedalis, fimplex, fubere&us, fo- 
lidus, articulatus, (geniculi tumidi) teres, Levis. 
STIPULAE vaginantes, apice membranacee, marcefcentes , 
ore obliquo. 
FOLIA cordato-lanceolata, undulata, lubtus ceerulefcen- 
tia, glabra, inferiora in petiolos decurrentia, fu- 
periora amplexicaulia in Ripulas definentia. 
FLORES fpicati, fpica oblongo-ovata, denfa. 
BRACTEiE membranacete, marcefcentes, biflores, bi- 
valves, valvula inferiore tricufpidata cufpide 
medio longiore quafi ariftata, flores pedicellati. 
pedicellis calyce longioribus. 
CALYX five COROLLA fubovata, quinquepartita, 
carnea, laciniis ovatis, obtufis, concavis, fig. 1. 3. 
STAMINA: Filamenta o£to, fubulata, alba, corolla 
longiora, Anthera biloculares, purpurafcentes, 
incumbentes. fig. 2. 
PISTILLUM: Germen triquetrum, fanguineum, Styli 
tres longitudine flaminum ; Stigmata parva, 
rotunda, fig. 5. 6. 7. 
NECTARIUM . glandulas rubras in fundo calycis,^. 4. 
SEMEN triquetrum, fufcum, mucronatum, nitens, ver- 
ni ce quali obdudtum. fig. S- 
ROOT perennial, the thicknefs of one’s finger, more or 
lefs crooked, externally of a chefnut, internally 
of aflelh colour, furnifhed with numerous fibres 
and creepers. 
STALK from one to two feet high, fimfile , nearly upright, 
lolid, jointed, (the joints fwelled,) round and 
fmooth. 
STIPULAE enclofing the Stalk as in a lheath, at top 
membranous, 'withered, the mouth oblique. 
LEAVES : the bottom leaves fomewhat heart fhaped and 
pointed ; waved at the edges, fmooth, under- 
neath blueilh and continued down the footftalks 
the upper leaves embracing the flalk, and ter- 
minating in the ftipuke. 
FLOWERS growing thickly in a fpike, the fpike of 
an oblong oval lhape. 
FLORAL LEAVES membranous, and withered, con- 
taining two flowers and having two valves, the 
lower valve three pointed, the middle point 
running out into a kind of arifta or beard, the 
flowers growing on footftalks which are longer 
than the Calyx. 
CALYX or COROLLA, of an oval fhape and flelh 
coloured, divided into five fegements, which are 
oval, obtufe, and concave, fig. i. 3. 
STAMINA : eight Filaments, tapering, white, and 
longer than the Calyx ; the Anthers bilocu- 
lar, purplifh, and laying acrofs the filaments. 
fig- 2. 
PISTILLUM the Germen three fquare, of a deep 
red colour, three Styles the length of the 
Stamina; the Stigmata fmall and round. 
fig. 5. 6. 7. 
NECTARIUM: feveral fmall red glands in the bot- 
tom of the Calyx, fig. 4. 
SEED : triangular, brown, pointed, and finning as if 
varnifhed. fig. 8. 
WHEN a Plant not intended to be cultivated, in any refpeft prevents the growth of one which is the objeft of 
Ccltwatron, loch a plant, however beaot.fi. 1 may with propriety be called a Weed ; nor will the elegance or Utility 
of the Biftort, fecure it 111 the eftimation of the Farmer, from that appellation 5 ' 
This Plant generally grows in moift Meadows, and flowers in May and June ; when it has once taken root it 
propagates very fail, and frequently will form large patches, to the exclufion of a confiderable portion of the Grafs 
nor .art deftroyed but with the greateft difficulty. Happily, our Farmers about Town are pretty much flrangers to 
d n f” m A A grows plentifully a Meadow by the fide of B.fifs Wood near HaSdd 
and my obliging Friend Dr. Allen informs me he has found it about Batterfea 1 namjyieaa, 
As an aftringent Medicine, the Biftort appears to poflefs confiderable virtue, and as fuel, may with propriety be 
made ufeof m all cafes where aftrmgents are required ; but more particularly in long continued evacuations from the 
Bowels, and other diicharges both ferous and fangumeous. It is recommended alfo to fallen teeth which are oofe and 
proOTnrf ^ 
In fome parts of England the leaves care eat as a Pot-herb. 
