Amphibious Bistort - Persicaria amphibia

Short to medium height (max 60 cm). It is a creeping plant rooting at the nodes, and has both terrestrial and aquatic forms. Flowers deep pink in short, dense, broad and often solitary spikes.

When on dry land, can be confused with other Persicaria

In flower, the stamens are exserted (stick out beyond the tepals).  Often several flowerheads per stem. Leaves can be black-blotched; truncate to cordate at base

Photos in aquatic state, or in flower showing stamens

In or close to still or slow flowing water.

June to September.

Perennial.

Fairly frequent throughout Britain.

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 200 of the 617 tetrads.

In the current Checklist (Jeeves, 2011) it is listed as Native, Locally Frequent