Taxon: Bistorta vivipara (L.) Delarbre

Summary

Genus:

Bistorta

Family:

Polygonaceae

Subfamily:

Polygonoideae

Tribe:

Persicarieae

Nomen number:

448785

Place of publication:

Fl. Auvergne ed. 2, 2:516. 1800

Verified:

08/29/2005 ARS Systematic Botanists.

Accessions:

2 (2 active, 0 available) in National Plant Germplasm System. (Map it)

Other conspecific taxa

Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations

Basionym
Polygonum viviparum L.

Homotypic Synonym(s)
Persicaria vivipara (L.) Ronse Decr.

No images

Conservation Status

Reference(s)

FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
Galasso, G. 2011. Review of Polygonaceae data for World Economic Plants, ed. 2. pers. comm.
Grierson, A. J. C. & D. J. Long. 1984-. Flora of Bhutan including a record of plants from Sikkim.
McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland. Note: = Polygonum viviparum
Ohwi, J. 1965. Flora of Japan (Engl. ed.). Note: = Polygonum viviparum
Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition). Note: = Polygonum viviparum

Common names

Language	Name	Alternate name	note	seq	Citation
English	alpine bistort			1	FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
Chinese	zhu ya quan shen	珠芽拳参	as Polygonum viviparum	2	Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition). Note: = Polygonum viviparum
Italian	poligono viviparo			2	Galasso, G. 2011. Review of Polygonaceae data for World Economic Plants, ed. 2. pers. comm.
Japanese Rōmaji	mukago-tora-no-o		as Polygonum viviparum	2	Ohwi, J. 1965. Flora of Japan (Engl. ed.). Note: = Polygonum viviparum
Transcribed Chinese	zhu ya liao		as Polygonum viviparum	2	McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland. Note: = Polygonum viviparum

Distribution

order_code	Status	Continent	Subcontinent	Country	State	Note	Reference
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Caucasus	Armenia
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Caucasus	Azerbaijan
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Caucasus	Georgia
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Caucasus	Russian Federation	Dagestan
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Caucasus	Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia	Ciscaucasia
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Gansu Sheng
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Guizhou Sheng
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Hebei Sheng
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Heilongjiang Sheng
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Henan Sheng
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Hubei Sheng
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Jilin Sheng
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Liaoning Sheng
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Nei Mongol Zizhiqu
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Ningxia Huizi Zizhiqu
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Qinghai Sheng
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Shaanxi Sheng
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Shanxi Sheng
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Sichuan Sheng
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Xizang Zizhiqu
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Yunnan Sheng
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Eastern Asia	Japan	Hokkaidô
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Eastern Asia	Japan	Honshu
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Eastern Asia	Korea
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Middle Asia	Kazakhstan
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Middle Asia	Kyrgyzstan
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Middle Asia	Tajikistan
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Mongolia	Mongolia
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Russian Far East	Russian Federation	Amur
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Russian Far East	Russian Federation	Habarovskij kraj
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Russian Far East	Russian Federation	Kamčatskij kraj
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Russian Far East	Russian Federation	Magadanskaja oblast'
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Russian Far East	Russian Federation	Primorye
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Russian Far East	Russian Federation	Sakhalin
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Siberia	Russian Federation-Eastern Siberia	Eastern Siberia
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Siberia	Russian Federation-Western Siberia	Western Siberia
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	Bhutan			Grierson, A. J. C. & D. J. Long. 1984-. Flora of Bhutan including a record of plants from Sikkim.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	India		n.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	Nepal
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indo-China	Myanmar
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indo-China	Thailand
1	Native	Europe	Eastern Europe	Russian Federation-European part	European part
1	Native	Europe	Middle Europe	Austria			Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
1	Native	Europe	Middle Europe	Germany			Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
1	Native	Europe	Middle Europe	Poland
1	Native	Europe	Middle Europe	Slovakia			Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
1	Native	Europe	Middle Europe	Switzerland			Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
1	Native	Europe	Northern Europe	Denmark			Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
1	Native	Europe	Northern Europe	Finland			Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
1	Native	Europe	Northern Europe	Iceland			Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
1	Native	Europe	Northern Europe	Ireland			Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
1	Native	Europe	Northern Europe	Norway			Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
1	Native	Europe	Northern Europe	Svalbard and Jan Mayen
1	Native	Europe	Northern Europe	Sweden			Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
1	Native	Europe	Northern Europe	United Kingdom			Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
1	Native	Europe	Southeastern Europe	Albania			Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
1	Native	Europe	Southeastern Europe	Bulgaria			Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
1	Native	Europe	Southeastern Europe	Croatia			Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
1	Native	Europe	Southeastern Europe	Italy			Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
1	Native	Europe	Southeastern Europe	Montenegro			Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
1	Native	Europe	Southeastern Europe	North Macedonia			Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
1	Native	Europe	Southeastern Europe	Romania			Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
1	Native	Europe	Southeastern Europe	Serbia			Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
1	Native	Europe	Southeastern Europe	Slovenia			Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
1	Native	Europe	Southwestern Europe	France			Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
1	Native	Europe	Southwestern Europe	Spain			Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
1	Native	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	New Brunswick		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	Newfoundland and Labrador		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	Ontario		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	Québec		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Eastern Canada	St. Pierre and Miquelon
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Minnesota		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	South Dakota		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Maine		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Michigan		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	New Hampshire		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Vermont		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Northwestern U.S.A.	United States	Colorado		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Northwestern U.S.A.	United States	Idaho		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Northwestern U.S.A.	United States	Montana		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Northwestern U.S.A.	United States	Oregon		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Northwestern U.S.A.	United States	Washington		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Northwestern U.S.A.	United States	Wyoming		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	South-Central U.S.A.	United States	New Mexico		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Southwestern U.S.A.	United States	Arizona		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Southwestern U.S.A.	United States	Nevada		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Southwestern U.S.A.	United States	Utah		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Subarctic America	Canada	Northwest Territories		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Subarctic America	Canada	Yukon		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Subarctic America	Greenland
1	Native	Northern America	Subarctic America	United States	Alaska		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Western Canada	Canada	Alberta		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Western Canada	Canada	British Columbia		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Western Canada	Canada	Manitoba		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Western Canada	Canada	Saskatchewan		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.

Native
Asia-Temperate

CAUCASUS: Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia [Ciscaucasia], Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation [Dagestan]
SIBERIA: Russian Federation-Western Siberia [Western Siberia], Russian Federation-Eastern Siberia [Eastern Siberia]
MIDDLE ASIA: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan
MONGOLIA: Mongolia
RUSSIAN FAR EAST: Russian Federation [Habarovskij kraj, Primorye, Amur, Kamčatskij kraj, Magadanskaja oblast', Sakhalin]
CHINA: China [Gansu Sheng, Guizhou Sheng, Hebei Sheng, Heilongjiang Sheng, Henan Sheng, Hubei Sheng, Jilin Sheng, Liaoning Sheng, Nei Mongol Zizhiqu, Ningxia Huizi Zizhiqu, Qinghai Sheng, Shaanxi Sheng, Shanxi Sheng, Sichuan Sheng, Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu, Xizang Zizhiqu, Yunnan Sheng]
EASTERN ASIA: Korea, Japan [Hokkaidô, Honshu]

Asia-Tropical

INDIAN SUBCONTINENT: Bhutan, India (n.), Nepal
INDO-CHINA: Myanmar, Thailand

Europe

NORTHERN EUROPE: Denmark, Finland, United Kingdom, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Svalbard and Jan Mayen, Sweden
MIDDLE EUROPE: Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Poland, Slovakia
EASTERN EUROPE: Russian Federation-European part [European part]
SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE: Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia
SOUTHWESTERN EUROPE: Spain, France

Northern America

SUBARCTIC AMERICA: Canada [Northwest Territories, Yukon], Greenland, United States [Alaska]
EASTERN CANADA: Canada [Québec, Ontario, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador], St. Pierre and Miquelon
WESTERN CANADA: Canada [Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia]
NORTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, Vermont]
NORTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [Minnesota, South Dakota]
NORTHWESTERN U.S.A.: United States [Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming]
SOUTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [New Mexico]
SOUTHWESTERN U.S.A.: United States [Arizona, Nevada, Utah]

Reference(s)

FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
Grierson, A. J. C. & D. J. Long. 1984-. Flora of Bhutan including a record of plants from Sikkim.
Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.

Economic Uses

Usage	Type	Note	Reference
Medicines	folklore	as Polygonum viviparum	McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland. Note: as Polygonum viviparum

Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=448785. Accessed 12 May 2026.