5. Bistorta vivipara (L.) S. F. Gray, Nat. Arr. Brit. Pl. 2: 268. 1821; Hara in Fl. E. Himal. 2: 22. 1971; in Hara et al., Enum. Fl. Pl. Nepal 3: 173. 1983; Grierson & D. G. Long, Fl. Bhutan 1(1): 168. 1983; Munshi & Javeid, l.c. (Fig.11, C-F).
Polygonum viviparum L., Sp. Pl. 360. 1753; Boiss., Fl. Or. 4: 2027.1879; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 5: 31. 1886; Kitamura, Fl. Afghan. 94. 1960; R.R.Stewart, l.c. 210; Bhopal & Chaudhri in Pak. Syst. 1: 80. 1977; P. bulbiferum Royle ex Bab. in Trans. Linn. Soc. 8: 94. 1838; Bistorta bulbifera (Royle ex Bab.) Greene, Leafl. 1: 21. 1904; Persicaria vivipara (L.) Ronse Decr. in Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 98: 368. 1988.
Erect, 15-45 (-50) cm tall, glabrous, simple rarely, branched, perennial herb with thick fibrous rhizomes. Leaves 4-15 x 0.5-1 (-1.5) cm, linear, acuminate, entire, upper surface glabrous, lower with few cilia on veins, basal leaves long petiolate, petiole 0.8-6.0 cm long, cauline leaves sessile. Ochrea 0.3-1.0 cm long, ovate, tubular, membranous, entire. Inflorescence 1.0-8.0 cm long, bulbiferous on the lower part, bulbils ovoid, 3-4 mm long; peduncle up to 4.0 cm long. Flowers 1-2.0 mm across, whitish to pink, pedicel 1-2.5 mm long. Ochreolae 2-4 mm long, ovate, long acuminate, dentate, tubular, membranous, glabrous. Tepals 4-5, divided almost to the base, 2-3 mm long, broadly oblanceolate, obtuse, entire, unequal outer surface wrinkled. Stamens 6, filaments long, filiform, unequal, 3 long and 3 short, exserted. Ovary 0.5-1.0 x 0.25-0.5 mm, biconvex with 2 long, filiform and free styles and capitate stigmas. Nuts 2-3 x 1.5-2 mm, biconvex, dark brown, glabrous, shining.
Fl. Per.: June-August.
Type: Described from Europe, Herb. Linn. 510.4 (LINN).
A wide spread and highly variable species. Grows between 2500-4500 m, in moist shady areas and steep slopes, sometimes even as a weed; Distribution: Siberia, Western and Central Asia, Himalaya, Xizang, China, Japan, North America and Greenland.
