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(Last Modified On 6/2/2011)
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Acceptance
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Accepted
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(Last Modified On 6/3/2011)
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Synonym Text
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Polygonum affine D. Don, Prodr., Fl. Nep. 70. 1825; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 5: 33. 1886; Schiman-Czeika & Rech.f. in Rech.f., Fl. Iran. 56: 62. 1968; R. R. Stewart, Ann. Cat. Vasc. Pl. W. Pak. & Kashm. 202. 1972; Bhopal & Chaudhri in Pak. Syst. 1(2): 80. 1977; Polygonum donianum Spreng. Syst. 4: 154. 1827; P. brunonis Wall. in Royle, Ill. Bot. Himal. Mount. 317. t. 80. 1839; Persicaria affinis (D. Don) Ronse Decr. in Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 98. 368. 1988.
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Flower/Fruit
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Fl. Per.: June-September.
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Type
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Type: Hab. in Nepaliae alpibus, Wallich.
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Habitat
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A common alpine and subalpine species, grows on open slopes, edges and rocky places on higher altitudes from 3000-4800 m, quite variable especially in the habit, leaf and peduncle length. On the higher altitudes, the plant tends to become semiprostrate to ± cushion-like with erect floral axis. However, this variation seems to be ± continuous or clinal in nature.
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Distribution
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Distribution: Pakistan (Himalayas, Hindukush), India, Nepal and Western Myanmar.
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Comment/Acknowledgements
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The rhizome is used for making tea and used in the same way as that of the following species, Bistorta amplexicaulis.
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Map Location
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A-6 Chitral: Ishporili gol, S. of Mastuj, J. D. A. Stainton 3108 (E); Gangalwat Gol (Kafiristan), S. W. of Chitral, 9000 ft, J. D. A. Stainton 2711 (E, K), Zangia Harar Hunza valley, 5.7.1939, R. Scott Rusell 1069 (E); Chitral: Golen (Krui uts) alt. 11500-12500/ft S. A. Bowes-Lyon 129 (E); Chitral, 1000-12000', S. M. Toppin 454 (K); Karambar Glacier, S. Bowes-Lyon 8218 (K); Gilgit, Giles s.n. (E); Gilgit, 74o,30'E 36o,5'N, ± 15000 ft, Moraine, by spring, Ellis R2 (K); A-7 Niltar (Nalter) valley 9-10000 ft, 4.8.1892, J. F. Duthie s.n. (E); Naltar, Gilgit 1000 ft, Sept. 1960, D. McVean s.n. (E); Manu Gah Nala, 10000 ft, J. W. Thornley 5 (E); B-7 Upper Malian, Hazara, Muqarrab Shah & Khalid 2072 (ISL); Lake Saiful Muluk, flowers pink, common, M.N.Chaudhri et al. 1772 (ISL); ibid, M.N.Chaudhi et al. 1812 (ISL); Saiful Muluk, ± 10000 ft, Kaghan valley, Muqarrab Shah & Jamshed 166 (E, ISL); Barai village, Kishenganga, 12000, 30.7.1935, F. Ludlow & G. Sherriff 1483 (E); Barnaj Nullah, Sapphire mines, 10000 ft, F. Ludlow & G. Sherriff 9152 (E); Tilpatra, forest near Rampur, Jhelum valley, Kashmir, 10-12000 ft, F. Ludlow & G. Sherriff 7753 (E); Lulusar, ± 12000 ft, Muquarrab Shah 298 (E); Swat dist.: Kalam, Madad Khan & Mohd. Mansha Swt. 1122 (PPFI); Kaghan, Shogran, Saiful Muluk, Kamal Ibrahim 6901 (KUH, RAW); Kaghan, 13.9.1974, coll. ign. (KUH); 15 miles from Burawai on way to Gilgit, Kamal Akhtar Malik & M. Qaiser 415 (KUH); 1 mile from Besal on way to Gilgit, Sultanul Abedin & M. Qaiser 9009 (KUH); ibid, Sultanul Abedin & M. Qaiser 9010 (KUH); Babusar Pass (Kaghan valley), Sultanul Abedin & M. Qaiser 9028 (KUH); Kaghan valley, 14,400 ft, Inayat 20115 (K); Gali, Musalla, Taran range, Hazara, 20.8.1899, J. F. Duthie s.n. (K); Kashmir, Gujar Nallah, Muzaffarabad, ± 10500 ft, Shahzad Iqbal & Ayaz 1968 (ISL); Near Kafar Klum ± 10000 ft, Jan Mohammad 3920 (ISL); ibid, Jan Mohammad 3735 (ISL); B-8 Kashmir: Khelanmarg, c. 10000 ft, 10.8.1956, O. Polunin 56/130 (E); Khillan & Apharwat, 10000-13500 ft, Sliane 70 (E); Nichinai Bar, rocky and earty slopes, fls. pink, O. Polunin 56/657 (E); Karakorum: Summer Grazing 4 miles North West of Hispar village, 13800 ft., in edges and rocky places, O. Polunin 6314 (E); Baltistan, Dras, 10000 ft, J. F. Duthie 13724 (E); Lamayurn, Ladakh, Kashmir, 15000 ft, Walter Koelz 2752 (E); Nurnar Pass, Kishenganga valley, 11000 ft, F. Ludlow & G. Sherriff 8256 (E); Baltistan, 5 miles from Astore on way to Rama, Saood Omer 352 (KUH); Between Rama and Rama lake, ± 12000', S. Omer & M. Qaiser 2377 (KUH); Kashmir, Sonamarg, 11-12000', 1912-1913, R. R. Stewart s.n. (KUH, RAW); Mantnar Nullah, Bringhi valley, 13000 ft, F. Ludlow & G. Sherriff 8203 (E); Deosai ± 12000 ft, Muquarrab Shah & Jamshed 279 (E, ISL); Pir Panjal, 11000 ft, 20.8.1891, G. A. Gammie s.n. (K); Mitsahoi, Kashmir, 11000' H. H. Rich 1152 (K); Gulmerg, 10000', 23rd August, 1919 H. H. Rich s.n. (K); Sonamarg, Sind valley, 12000', R. R. Stewart 3577 (K); Barzil Kashmir, 10500', C. B. Clarke 29615 (K); Kashmir 1912, B. Sahni (K); Kashmir, 10500', P. N. Kohli 46 (K), on or beside moraine of Samayar glacier, between 10000 & 11150 ft, expedition to Karakorum glaciers, W. M. Conway 32 (K); close to Mir Camp, 11650 ft, expedition to Karakorum glaciers, W. M. Conway 130 (K); Kashmir, above Gulmarg, 13200 ft, G. L. B. Fuller 141 (K), Deosai plains, Baltistan, M. A. Siddiqi, Zaffar Ali & Y. Nasir 4119 (E,K); Apharwat, near top, Kashmir, F. E. W. Vennig K 98 (K); B-9 Biafo/Thispar Glacier, 5200 m, Cairns Dickson 36 (E); C-8 Dist. Poonch.: Between Bedori, 10000', R. R. Stewart & E. Nasir 23928 (KUH, RAW).
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Densely tufted, 10-25 cm high, glabrous with woody rootstock, perennial, branched herb. Leaves basal as well as cauline, sessile or shortly petiolate. Basal leaves 3.25-6.0 x 1.0-2.0 cm, elliptic to ovate or obovate, subsessile to petiolate, obtuse to acute, crenulate, glaucous beneath; cauline leaves few, 2.5-4.0 x 0.8-1.2 cm, narrowly lanceolate to lanceolate, obtuse to acute. Ochrea 4-10 mm long, tubular, brown with prominent veins. Inflorescence a pedunculate, 2-4 cm spicate head. Ochreolae ovate-obovate, 2.5-4 x 2-3 mm,. Flowers pedicellate, 2.5-3.0 (-3.5) mm across. Pedicel 2-3 mm long. Tepals 5, biseriate, pink, 3-4 x 1-2 mm, elliptic, obtuse to acute. Stamens 8, biseriate, inner series with long filaments. Ovary trigonous with free and long styles, stigma rounded. Nuts 2-2.5 x 1-2 mm, trigonous, dark brown, smooth and shining.
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