User:Lwill17/Bistorta vacciniifolia

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Bistorta vacciniifolia is a species of flowering plant in the Polygonaceae family. It is a garden perennial and its common name is the whortleberry-leaved knotweed.

Description
This knotweed is branched and woody from the base and has red erect stems. This plant typically grows 25-40 cm tall. The leaves are lance shaped, the widest part is lower than the middle, and it is pointed at the tip. It is a flowering plant with light pink, small petals. The stamens are long and unequal and the ovaries are trigonous with three long and unequal styles and a star-shaped stigma.

Taxonomy
This knotweed was first described from Bhundrunath, Wallich in 1695. Other names for this plant include Persicaria vacciniifolia, the rock knotweed, and Polygonum vacciniifolium.

Distribution and Habitat
Native to Tibet and Himalaya, this plant is also found distributed from Kashmir to Bhutan, Western Xizang. It grows densely on rocks between 10,000-14,000 ft. This plant is typically found in clay soil that is moist but well drained and is able to persist through winter conditions. It flowers in late summer and early fall.

Uses
This species is mainly used in gardening and was awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.