Weed Information: Fagopyrum tataricum (buckwheat, tartary)
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Fagopyrum tataricum (buckwheat, tartary)

Family: Polygonaceae

Description

In general appearance similar to Polygonum convolvulus (wild buckwheat) but not vining in habit. The three-angled seed not clasped by the sepals.

Characteristics

Flower Color
  • Green
  • White
  • Multi-colored
Inflorescence Type (How the flowers are arranged on the plant)
  • Axillary cluster
  • Axillary racemes
Number of Petals
  • 0 (no petals)
  • 5 petals
Petal Separation
  • Completely free to base
Petal Tip
  • Rounded
Flower Symmetry
  • Flowers regular
Flower Length (Head length in the Asteraceae)
  • 3 mm (.12 inch)
  • 4 mm (.16 inch)
  • 5 mm (.20 inch)
Flower Width (Head width in the Asteraceae)
  • 3 mm (.12 inch)
  • 4 mm (.16 inch)
  • 5 mm (.20 inch)
Number of Sepals
  • sepals lacking
  • 5 sepals
Sepal Separation
  • Completely free to base
Sepal Tip
  • Rounded
Flower Sex
  • Bisexual (perfect)
Number of Styles
  • 3 styles
Number of Stamens
  • 8 stamens
Stamens Attached to the Petals
  • Stamens NOT attached to the petals
Stamens Connate (united)
  • Filaments or anthers NOT united

Carpel Separation
  • Carpels united (or one)
Number of Carpels
  • 1 carpel
  • 3 carpels
Ovary Position
  • Superior (hypogynous)
Fruit Type
  • Achene
Fruit Length at Maturity
  • 5 mm (.20 inch)
  • 6 mm (.24 inch)
  • 7 mm (.28 inch)
Fruit Width at Maturity
  • 3 mm (.12 inch)
  • 4 mm (.16 inch)
  • 5 mm (.20 inch)
Burs
  • Fruit or seed NOT bur-like

Leaf Arrangement
  • Alternate
Leaf Type
  • Simple (including lobed leaves)
Stipules
  • Membranous, entire
Tendrils
  • Tendrils absent
Venation
  • Palmate
Petiole (leaf stem) Blade Ratio
  • Petiole < 25% total length
  • Petiole 25% - 75% total length
Leaf Length (blade PLUS petiole)
  • 2 - 4 cm (.80 - 1.60 inches)
  • 4 - 10 cm (1.60 - 4.0 inches)
  • 1 - 2 dm (4.0 - 8.0 inches)
Leaf Width
  • 2 - 4 cm (.80 - 1.6 inches)
  • 4 - 10 cm (1.6 - 4.0 inches)
Leaf Shape (simple leaves only)
  • Cordate (heart)
  • Deltoid (triangular)
  • Hastate (spear-head)
  • Sagittate (arrowhead)
Leaf or Leaflet Margin
  • Entire
Leaf or Leaflet Blade Base
  • Cordate
  • Truncate
Leaf or Leaflet Tip
  • Acuminate (attenuate)
  • Acute
Leaf or Leaflet Blade Surface
  • Glabrous (NO hairs)
Succulence
  • Not succulent

Milky Juice
  • Juice NOT milky (watery)
Woodiness
  • Herbaceous
Spines or Thorns
  • Spines or Thorns ABSENT
Aromatic (vegetative structures)
  • Not aromatic
Life Cycle
  • Annual
Growth Habit (while flowering)
  • Erect, columnar (narrow)
  • Erect, spherical (bushy)
Plant Height at Maturity
  • 1 - 2 dm (4.0 - 8.0 inches)
  • 2 - 4 dm (8.0 - 16.0 inches)
  • 4 - 6 dm (1.3 - 2.0 feet)
  • 6 - 8 dm (2.0 - 2.6 feet)
Wind Dissemination
  • Not wind disseminated
Moisture Regime
  • Mesic
Chlorophyll
  • Present

Stem Cross Section
  • Ridged
  • Round
Flowering Stem Leaves
  • Stem uniformly leafy
Main Stem Branches
  • Main stem unbranched
  • Main stem branched

Root or Vegetative Propagule
  • Fibrous
  • Tap Root

US State
  • Massachusetts
  • Maine
  • Michigan
  • New Hampshire
  • New York
  • Pennsylvania
  • West Virginia
  • Vermont
Canadian Province or Territory
  • British Columbia
  • New Brunswick
  • Nova Scotia
  • Ontario
  • Quebec
  • Alberta
  • Manitoba
  • Newfoundland
  • Saskatchewan

  • The Biology of Canadian Weeds: Canadian Journal of Plant Science Vol:66Pg.381
  • Common Weeds of the Canadian Prairies, 1963 (Cat# A53-1136-1) See page: 39
  • S.W.S.S. Weed ID Guide, 1993 Section Number and Five letter code: 6 FAGTA
  • Weeds of Alberta, 1983 Alberta Environmental Centre Agdex 640-4, See page: 29
  • Weeds of Canada, 1970 Canada Dept. of Ag., Pub. # 948, See page: 45
  • Weeds of the Northern United States and Canada, 1964 Montgomery See page: 28
  • Weeds of the Northern U.S, and Canada, 1999 Royer and Dickinson, (ISBN# 1-55105-221-0) See page: 82 - 83
  • Listed as a `Weed` by the Biota of North America Program, 2008 x
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