Bistorta bistortoides (American bistort, western bistort, smokeweed, mountain meadow knotweed, mountain buckwheat or mountain meadow buckwheat) is a perennial herb in the buckwheat and knotweed family Polygonaceae.

Description

Bistorta bistortoides plants generally grow to 10–51 cm tall. Individuals growing above 2250 m are smaller, seldom reaching more than 30 cm in height. The leaves are leathery and 2.5-10 cm long, being mostly basal on the stem. The dense cylindrical to oblong inflorescence is 2.5-5 cm long and packed with small white to pinkish flowers, each a few millimeters wide and with protruding stamens.

Taxonomy

The species name remains unresolved.

Distribution and habitat

B. bistortoides is distributed throughout the Mountain West in North America from Alaska and British Columbia south into California and east into the Rocky Mountains. The plant grows from foothills to above the timberline.

Ecology

Rodents and bears consume the roots, and elk and deer browse the foliage.

Uses

American bistort was an important food plant used by Native Americans living in the Mountain West, including Blackfoot and Cheyenne peoples. The roots are edible either raw or fire-roasted with a flavor resembling chestnuts. The seeds can be dried and ground into flour and used to make bread. They were also roasted and eaten as a cracked grain. The young leaves can be eaten raw or cooked.