Here's one for ya to id!

[spiritofold]

This one was growing on the river bank next to an ancient meadow...

Does anyone know what it is though????

http://i625.photobucket.com/albums/tt337/spiritofold/andy44/DSC00450.jpg?t=1247850096

http://i625.photobucket.com/albums/tt337/spiritofold/andy44/DSC00449.jpg?t=1247849772

[Xylaria]

It is a escaped hybrid of bistort. Normal bistort has paler and denser flowers.

[nolightweight]

Got any uses? :)

[Xylaria]

When the leaves are bit younger they are a quality eat. They take less cooking then spinach. They are a quite bland tasting and can be eaten raw (a good wash is required) with sheded dandilion. They make dandilion taste alright. An old name for bistort is easter ledge, i tried make to easterledge pudding. The leaves are cooked with barley and set cold and sliced and refried with bacon, really horible. The root is twisted like a snake and it was thought to be cure for snake bites. I don't know how edible the ornimental type of bistort is the stuff in picture looks old and tough.