Not just a pretty face

Bistorta bistortoides, July 8, 2021

Bistorta bistortoides, July 8, 2021

Common & scientific name
American bistort, Bistorta bistortoides

Family
Buckwheat, Polygonaceae 

Location
Mountain Boy, 12,500’

Fun, weird, helpful, or little known fact
One of our most common subalpine and alpine flowers.  Bistort has a long history of use by Native Americans as food and for medicinal purposes, and is also favored by many animals.