RED BISTORT

Persicaria amplexicaulis

Dock & Knotweed Family [Polygonaceae]  

month8aug month8sep month8sept month8oct

status
statusZneophyte
flower
flower8red
morph
morph8actino
petals
petalsZ5
stem
stem8round

25th Sept 2008, roadside bank, Silverdale, Lancs. Photo: © RWD
A long spike of brilliant red flowers, reminiscent of those of Purple Loosestrife or Rosebay Willowherb.


25th Sept 2008, roadside bank, Silverdale, Lancs. Photo: © RWD
The leaves are ovate or lanceolate heart-shaped, dock-like, and clasp the stem at a node.


25th Sept 2008, roadside bank, Silverdale, Lancs. Photo: © RWD
The flower spike has many red five-petalled flowers amidst upright long cylindrical seed-pods.


25th Sept 2008, roadside bank, Silverdale, Lancs. Photo: © RWD
The flowers are not all open, those that are splay five prominent petals and perhaps twice as many prominent stamens tipped with indigo pollen.


25th Sept 2008, roadside bank, Silverdale, Lancs. Photo: © RWD
Most of the flowers are closed and tubular-like.


16th Sept 2014, Moses Gate Country Park, Farnworth, Lancs. Photo: © RWD
Flowers in close-up


16th Sept 2014, Moses Gate Country Park, Farnworth, Lancs. Photo: © RWD
Amplexicaul leaves; they wrap around the stem at the rear without being attached there. Note the sheath extending up the stem on the plant, which is typical of Bistorts and plants of the Persicaria genera.


25th Sept 2008, roadside bank, Silverdale, Lancs. Photo: © RWD
The dock-like leaves clasp the stem at nodes.


25th Sept 2008, roadside bank, Silverdale, Lancs. Photo: © RWD
The red flowers and greenish long cylindrical seed pods.


16th Sept 2014, Moses Gate Country Park, Farnworth, Lancs. Photo: © RWD
Flowers in close-up


Some similarities to : Purple Loosestrife or Rosebay Willowherb

Uniquely identifiable characteristics

Very showy plant. More likely to be found near a garden. Likes growing in damp shady places, roadside verges, railway banks, or by streams.


  Persicaria amplexicaulis  ⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ Polygonaceae  

Distribution
 family8Dock family8Knotweed family8Polygonaceae
 BSBI maps
genus8Persicaria
Persicaria
(Bistorts)

RED BISTORT

Persicaria amplexicaulis

Dock & Knotweed Family [Polygonaceae]  

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