bis·tort (b s tôrt )n. 1. A Eurasian perennial herb (Polygonum bistorta) having cylindrical spikes of usually pink flowers and a rhizome used as an astringent in folk medicine. 2. Any of certain related plants of the genus Polygonum. [French bistorte, from Old French, from Medieval Latin *bistorta : Latin bis, twice; see bis + torta, past participle of torqu  re, to twist; see torque1.] |
bistort [ˈbɪstɔːt]
n
1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) Also called snakeroot snakeweed Easter-ledges a Eurasian polygonaceous plant, Polygonum bistorta, having leaf stipules fused to form a tube around the stem and a spike of small pink flowers
2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) Also called snakeroot a related plant, Polygonum bistortoides, of W North America, with oval clusters of pink or white flowers
3. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) any of several other plants of the genus Polygonum
[from French bistorte, from Latin bis twice + tortus from torquēre to twist]
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