A knotweed with other common names such
as snake root, and bistort. Once known as Polygonum
because Poly means many; gonu means knee joints within its
stem, while bistorta means twice twisted. Another common
name is Easter-ledges because in the Lake District a
traditional dish for Easter would consist of knotweed
leaves cooked with onion, pearl barley, butter and eggs;
also known as Herb pudding or Yarby pudding.
Sometimes served as a vegetable with
lamb in Spring it is supposed to purify the blood. In
certain parts of Yorkshire it is known as passion dock
from the custom of eating pudding made from it during
Passiontide; the last two weeks in Lent. Derived from the
native British bistort a useful and beautiful plant for
most soils although the flowering period is lengthened
when in moist ground. A good bog garden plant.
