BUCKWHEAT

Fagopyrum esculentum

Dock & Knotweed [Polygonaceae]

1 Sept 2011, Bad Tölz, Germany

Photo: © Ruth Dawson

In the same family as Himalayan Balsam, but has larger but fewer flowers in the panicle.

1 Sept 2011, Bad Tölz, Germany

Photo: © Ruth Dawson

Stems often red, thin but stiff with heart-shaped leavesat the base of a flowering branch. Grows to 60cm.

1 Sept 2011, Bad Tölz, Germany

Photo: © Ruth Dawson

Flowers white to pinkish with five tepals, larger and more open than other members of the Knotweed and Dock Family such as Knotweeds themselves, or Bistorts or Knotgrasses.

1 Sept 2011, Bad Tölz, Germany

Stalkless leaves clasp the stem. Shape varies from heart-shaped near the top, to arrowhead near the bottom of the plant, which is up to 3 feet tall. Sheaths at the base of the leaf stems are not fringed as they are on some similar plants from the Knotweed Family.

Some similarities to : Knotweeds and the leaves are similar to some Bindweeds but it is not a climbing plant.

Uniquely identifiable characteristics

Distinguishing Feature :

No relation to : Common Cow-wheat, Crested Cow-wheat or Field Cow-wheat, [a plant with similar name belonging to a different family].

An annual. Occurs casually, anywhere at any time, but not lingering for long in any one place. Occurs especially where once grown as a food for game-birds.

ANY TEXT GOES HERE

Distribution
family8Dock & Knotweed family8Polygonaceae

BSBI maps

Fagopyrum
(Buckwheats)