Bistorta griffithii - Drooping Knotweed

Drooping Knotweed is a perennial herb characterized by drooping, red flower-spikes at branch-ends or in leaf-axils, 3-5 cm long, 1.5-2 cm in diameter. Bracts are broadly lanceshaped or narrowly ovate, 4-5 mm, each 1- or 2-flowered. Flower-stalks are thread-like, 1-1.2 cm long, jointed at middle. Flowers are purple-red, 5-parted; tepals narrowly elliptic, 5-6 mm. Stamens are 8, included. Styles 3; stigmas headlike. Stems are 1 or 2 from rhizome, erect, 20-40 cm tall, simple, hairless. Basal leaves are long stalked; leaf-stalk large, 6-10 cm. Leaves are slightly shiny above, elliptic, 10-15 x 3-5 cm, leathery, hairless, midvein prominent, yellow-brown velvet-hairy, rarely hairless below, base broadly wedge-shaped or rounded, margin with thickened vein tips, curled, tip tapering or pointed. Stem leaves are shortly stalked; ovate-elliptic; uppermost leaves nearly stalkless. Drooping Knotweed is found in East Himalaya to China (Yunnan) and N. Myanmar. Flowering: July-August.