An herbaceous perennial bistort can reach heights of 20 to 80 centimeters (8 to 31 in) and widths of 90 cm (35 in). Its popular name, snakeroot, possibly comes from its thick, twisted rootstock. Typically, the foliage is basal, with a few tiny leaves appearing close to the base of the flowering stems. The leaves are often hairless; the basal ones have long, winged stalks, rounded or heart-shaped bases, and are longish-oval in shape. The few upper leaves are triangular in shape, tapering, and stalkless. They have stipules at the bottom that form a sheath around the stem. The petioles have large winged wings. A spike forms the inflorescence. The plant produces tall, upright, unbranched, and hairless flowers from late spring through autumn, growing tall, erect, hairless, unbranched stems that terminate in single terminal racemes with club-like spikes 5-7 cm (2-3 in) long and covered with rose-pink flowers. Each flower has three fused carpels, three freestyles, three fused carpels, five segments of the perianth, and eight stamens. A glossy black nut serves as the fruit. In June and July, flowers bloom. On damp soils, the plant flourishes.