bistort

American  

[bis-tawrt] / ˈbɪs tɔrt /

noun

1. Also called snakeweed.  a European plant, Polygonum bistorta, of the buckwheat family, having a twisted root, which is sometimes used as an astringent.

2. any of several related plants, as P. viviparum alpine bistort.

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bistort British  

/ ˈbɪstɔːt /

noun

1. Also called: snakeroot.   snakeweed.   Easter-ledges.  a Eurasian polygonaceous plant, Polygonum bistorta , having leaf stipules fused to form a tube around the stem and a spike of small pink flowers

2. Also called: snakeroot.  a related plant, Polygonum bistortoides , of W North America, with oval clusters of pink or white flowers

3. any of several other plants of the genus Polygonum

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Etymology

Origin of bistort

First recorded in 1570–80, bistort is from the Medieval Latin word bistorta twice twisted. See bis ¹, tort

Example Sentences

During July and August, you’ll likely see meadows with wildflowers like pink mountain heath, bistort and scarlet paintbrush.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 21, 2021

L. E. D.—All the parts of bistort have a rough austere taste, particularly the root, which is one of the strongest of the vegetable stringents.

From The Botanist's Companion, Volume II by Salisbury, William

Polygonum, po-lig′o-num, n. a kind of plant with many joints, as the bistort, knotweed, &c.—n.pl.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various

The Polygonum Viviparum, viviparous bistort, rises about a foot high, with a beautiful spike of flowers, which are succeeded by buds or bulbs, which fall off and take root.

From The Botanic Garden. Part II. Containing the Loves of the Plants. a Poem. With Philosophical Notes. by Darwin, Erasmus