U g o n um Bistorta-. The Greater Bistort,
or Snake-Weed.
POLYGONUM Linnosi Gen. PL Oct an d ria tr ig yn ia .
Raii Synopfis, Genus 5. Herbas flore imperfecto seu stamineo (vel
APETALO POTIUS).
POLYGONUM Bifiorta caule fimpliciflimo, monoftachyo, foliis ovatis in petiolum decurrentibus.
jLinnosi Syfl. Vegetab. p. 311.
POLYGONUM radice lignofa contorta, fpica ovata, foliorum petiolis alatis. Haller Hiß. v. 2. 258.
COLUBRINA feu Serpentaria fcemina. Fyjchii icon. 774.
SERPENTARIA mas five Biftorta. Fu/chii icon. 773.
BISTORTA major radice minus intorta. Bauhin. Pin. 192.
BISTORTA major radice magis intorta. Bauhin. Pin. 192.
BISTORTA major. Gerard. Emac. 399. major vulgaris Parkinfon 391. Raii Synopßs 147. Hudfon.
Fl. Angl. 146. Flor. Dan. Ic. 421.
*ADIX perennis, craflitie digiti, plus minufve intorta,
externe caftanea, interne carnea, fibris
et ftolonibus plurimis inftr'u&a.
iULIS pedalis aut bipedalis, fimplex, fubere&us,
folidus,. articulatus, (geniculi tumidi) teres,
laevis.
flPUL^E vaginantes, apice membranaceae, mar-
cefcentes, ore obliquo.
ALIA inferiora cordato-lanceolata, undulata, fub-
tus caerulefcentia, glabra, in petiolos de-
currentia, fuperiora amplexicaulia in ftipulas
definentia.
LORES fpicati, fpica oblongo-ovata, denfa.
:RACTEiE membranaceae, marcefcentes, biflores,
bivalves, valvula inferiore tricufoidata, cuf-
pide medio longiore quafi ariltata, flores
pedicellati, pedicellis calyce longioribus.
ALYX, five COROLLA, fubovata, quinquepar-
tita, carnea, laciniis ovatis, obtufis, concavis,
jig. 1, 3'.
jTAMINA: Filamenta o£fc>, fubulata, alba, corolla
longiora; A nther je. biloculares, pur-
purafcentes, incumbentes, jig. 2.
STILLUM: G ermen triquetrum, fanguineum,
Styli tres. longitudine ftaminum; S tigmata
parva, rotunda, jig. 5, 6, 7.
JECTARIUM: glandulae rubrae in fundo calycis, I H
r triquetrum, fufcum, mucronatum, nitens,
vernice quafi obdu&um, jig. 8.
RO O T perennial, the thicknefsof one’s finger, more
or lefs crooked, externally o f a chefnujt, internally
of a flefti colour, furnifhed with
numerous fibres and creepers.
S T A LK from one to two feet high, jimple, nearly
upright, folid, jointed (the joints fwelled),
found, and fmooth.
STIPULiE enclofing the ftalk as in a (heath, at top
membranous, withered, the mouth oblique.
L E A V E S : the bottom leaves fomewhat heart-maped
and pointed; waved at the edges, fmooth,
underneath blueifh and continued down the
footftalks, the upper leaves embracing the
ftalk, and terminating in the ftipulte.
FLOWERS growing thickly in a fpike, the fpike of
an oblong oval Ihape.
FLORAL LEAVES membranous, an,d withered,
containing 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.
CAL YX, or COROLLA, of an oval Ihape, and flefh-
, coloured, divided into five fegments, which
are oval, obtufe, and concave, fig. 1 ,3 .
STAMINA: eightFiLAMENTs, tapering, white, and
longer than thé Calyx; the A n th e r s bilocular,
purplilh, and laying acrofs the filaments,
fig. 2.
PISTILLUM : the G ermen three-fquare, of a deep
red colour, three S tyles the length of the
Stamina; the Stigmata fmall and round,
f i g - 5> 6> 7 •
NECTARIUM : feveral fmall red glands in the bottom
o f the Calyx, fig. 4.
SEED: triangular, brown, pointed, and fhining as
if varnilhed, fig. 8.
[When a plant, not intended to be cultivated, in any refpeft prevents the growth of one which is the objeft
i cultivation, fuch a plant, however beautiful, may, with propriety, be called a weed ; nor will the elegance
- utility of the Biftort-fecure it, in the eftimation of the farmer, from that appellatic
(This r_
is plant generally grows in moift meadows, and flowers in May and Jui
propagates f r
very faft, and frequently will form large patches, to the exclu
une; when it has once taken
fion of a confiderable portion
i f Sra^s 5 nor is it deftroyed but with the greateft difficulty. Happily our farmers about town are pretty
«_ cn ltrangp“- ■ ' ■ * ^----— 5 ^ •— : ----
>ngers to this plant, as it is met with but rarely. It grows plentifully in a meadow by the fide of
Merfca001* ®?ar Hampjtead; and my obliging friend Dr. A llen informs me he has found it about
aftringent medicine, the Biftort appears to poflefs confiderable virtue, and as fuch may with pro-
Ly .e ma(k nfe of in all cafes where aftringents are required ; but more particularly in .long-continued
%, ,0“8 the bowels, and other difcharges both ferous and fanguineous. It is recommended alfo to
5fu| eetl1 Which are loofe, and may be ufed either in powder, infufion, or extraft. I f it could be procured
| lent quantity to make it anfwer, it might well be applied to the purpofe o f tanning leather.
L^lome parts of England the leaves are eat as a pot-herb.