Plants

BISTORT

(Persicaria bistorta)

Probably the commonest plant in some of woodlands near to where I live, Bistort is a love it or hate it plant, with some loving the taste whilst others think it is disgusting, only one way to find out! In Calderdale not far from where I live there is actually a contest to see who can make the best ‘dock pudding’ which is made with bistort not dock as I have known some people to do (don’t do this it will taste awful).

Bistort does look like dock but the leaves are slimmer and more elegant and the base of the leaf stem is a lovely pink coloured which you can not mistake. I use them as spring greens and fry them up with some butter and garlic (everything tastes great with butter and garlic), it is a plant I can take as much as I need and know there is valleys full of it still (infact it seems to be spreading more).

APPEARANCE: One could easily look at the leaves of Bistort and pass them of as a dock species, but the leaf is slightly different, it has ‘flanges’ of the leaf which run right down the stem. The base of the stem is different, if you pick at leaf and stem, the bottom of the stem is bright pink. When it flowers it has little pink fluffy flowers too, but you want to pick the leaves before it gets to this stage.

SIMILAR SPECIES: Docks, but look for the pink base to the stem.

HABITAT: Bistort loves damp, but not too wet, woodlands and hedgerows, which is why it is prolific around Discover the Wild (it never stops raining!). It must be said that it is not so common elsewhere in the country and even rare in parts!

EDIBILITY RATING: When you and fresh it is a lovely spring green 4/5

SEASON: The leaves appear in February and last right through to May, you want to pick the leaves before it flowers as it soon becomes bitter.

STATUS: Common and locally abundant, the valley around Discover the Wild are full of it.