Persicaria runcinata

Persicaria runcinata, commonly known as knotweed or curled bistort, is a resilient herbaceous perennial valued for its distinctive, deeply lobed foliage. Traditionally used in herbal medicine, this plant contains bioactive compounds believed to support digestive health and reduce inflammation, making it a significant subject in ethnobotanical studies worldwide.

  • Scientific name: Persicaria runcinata
  • Family: Polygonaceae
  • Native range: Europe

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Caryophyllales and the family Polygonaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Persicaria.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Caryophyllales WCVP
Family Polygonaceae WCVP
Genus Persicaria WCVP

Common Names

This plant, known scientifically as Persicaria runcinata, is recognized by various common names depending on the region and language. In Chinese, it is referred to as 羽叶蓼 (Yǔyèliǎo) in Simplified Chinese (zh-hans), Mainland China (zh-cn), and in the standard Mandarin used in Taiwan (zh). Within Taiwan specifically, it is also commonly called 玉山蓼 (Yùshānlìào) or 散血丹 (Sànxuèdān).
Language Common Name Source
zh-tw 散血丹 Wikidata
zh 羽叶蓼 Wikidata
zh-hans 羽叶蓼 Wikidata
zh-cn 羽叶蓼 Wikidata
zh-tw 玉山蓼 Wikidata
pl Rdest piłkowany Wikidata

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range spanning several distinct regions. In Northern Europe, its presence is specifically noted within Great Britain. Its distribution extends into the Caucasus region, particularly throughout the Transcaucasus area. Within China, it can be found across three major zones: South-Central, North-Central, and Southeast. This wide-reaching pattern demonstrates the plant's ability to thrive in various continental environments.

Region Area Source
Northern Europe Great Britain WCVP
Caucasus Transcaucasus WCVP
China China South-Central WCVP
China China North-Central WCVP
China China Southeast WCVP
China Tibet WCVP
Eastern Asia Taiwan WCVP
Indian Subcontinent Assam WCVP
Indian Subcontinent East Himalaya WCVP
Indian Subcontinent Nepal WCVP