Bistorta officinalis, Polygonum bistorta, Persicaria officinalis, Persicaria bistorta,
SE: Stor ormrot, DE: Schlangen-Knöterich,
NL: Adderwortel, UK: Snakeroot, Snake-root, Snakeweed, Easter-ledges

Scientific name:		Bistorta officinalis Delarbre
Synonym name:		Polygonum bistorta, Persicaria officinalis, Persicaria bistorta
Swedish name:		Stor ormrot
German name:		Schlangen-Knöterich
Nederlandse naam:		Adderwortel
English name:		Snakeroot, Snake-root, Snakeweed, Easter-ledges
Family:		Polygonaceae, Knotweed family, Slideväxter

Life form:		Perennial herb
Stems:		Height 20–80 cm., erect, unbranched, glabrous
Leaves:		Alternate, simple, smooth margin
Flowers:		Inflorescence a spike, pink flowers with five perianth segments, eight stamens, three fused carpels and three free styles
Flowering Period:		June–July
Fruits:		Nut, glossy black
Habitat:		Anthropogenic (man-made or disturbed habitats), forest edges, forests
Distribution:		Southern and central Sweden

Derivation of the botanical name: Bistorta, bis, "twice," and tortus, "twisted," thus twice-twisted, in reference to the double turn of the fruit. officinalis, derived from opificina, shortened to officina, originally a workshop, later a monastic storeroom, then a herb-store, pharmacy or drug-shop. The standard author abbreviation Delarbre is used to indicate Antoine Delarbre (1724 - 1813), a French botanist, author of "Flore d'Auvergne."