Description from
Flora of China
Bistorta purpureonervosa (A. J. Li) Yonekura & H. Ohashi.
Herbs perennial. Rhizomes black-brown, curved, large, 1.5-2 cm in diam. Stems erect, purple-red, 15-20 cm tall, simple. Basal leaves petiolate; petiole purple, 3-4 cm, glabrous; leaf blade gray-green abaxially, green and slightly shiny adaxially, elliptic, 3-5 × 2.5-3 cm, leathery, margin with thickened vein tips, revolute, veins purple-red and slightly prominent, base cuneate, apex subobtuse. Cauline leaves shortly petiolate or subsessile; leaf blades smaller than basal ones, ovate-elliptic; ocrea: lower part purple-red, upper part brown, tubular, 2.5-4 mm, membranous, apex oblique, not ciliate, dehiscent at middle. Inflorescence shortly spicate, 2-2.5 cm, 1.5-2 cm in diam.; bracts brown, ovate, membranous, apex acuminate. Pedicel 3-4 mm. Perianth purple-red, 5-parted; tepals elliptic, 3-3.5 mm. Stamens 8, exserted. Styles 3, connate to below middle, exserted; stigmas capitate. Achenes included in persistent perianth, black-brown, shiny, ovoid, trigonous, ca. 3.5 mm. Fl. Jul-Aug, fr. Aug-Sep.
* Mixed thickets on mountain slopes, grassy slopes; 4000-4800 m. Sichuan (Daocheng, Xiangcheng).