Polygonum alpestre C. A. May, Verz. Pl. Cauc. 157. 1831; R.R.Stewart, l.c. 203; Polygonum confertum Royle ex Bab. in Trans. Linn. Soc. 18: 116. 1838; Polygonum ammanioides Jaub. & Spach. Ill. Pl. Or. t. 19. 1844; Polygonum pamiroalaicum Kom., Fl. URSS 5. Add. 719. 1936; Polygonum cognatum var. alpestre (C.A.Mey.) Meisn. in DC., Prodr. 14: 96. 1875.

Type: Described from Siberia.

An Irano-Turanian element, grows between 3000-5600 m on rocky and drier slopes; Distribution: Central to Western Asia, Turkey, Caucasia (Georgia), Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The type subspecies is a highly variable taxon. A number of taxa have been segregated but the variation seems to be ± continuous. Polygonum pamiroalaicum Kom. is one of those taxa which hardly separates out from P. cognatum subsp. cognatum. In typical P. pamiroalaicum the leaves are slightly smaller with a small mucro. These characters do not merit a separate specific or infraspecific rank as mucro is also present in number of specimens having bigger leaves. The other character mentioned by Komarov i.e. densely foliate branches in P. pamiroalaicum is also overlapping.