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| Fallopia convolvulus (L.) A.Löve |
Wild Buckwheat (Fallopia convolvulus, syn Polygonum convolvulus L., Bilderdykia convolvulus (L.) Dumont) is a fast-growing annual flowering plant in the family Polygonaceae. It is also known as Black Bindweed, Climbing Bindweed, and Corn Bindweed. It is native throughout Europe, Asia and northern Africa 1.
It is a herbaceous vine growing to 1-2 m long, with alternate triangular leaves 2-6 cm long. The basal lobes of the leaves are pointed at the petiole. The flowers are small, and greenish-pink to greenish white, clustered on racemes. These clusters give way to small triangular fruit, with one seed in each fruit 2.
Note that while it superficially resemble true bindweeds (genus Convolvulus) there are many notable differences; Wild Buckwheat has ocrea (stipule-sheath at nodes), which true bindweeds do not; bindweeds have conspicuous flowers typical of morning-glories while wild buckweed has flowers that are unobtrusive and only about 4 mm long 2.
Cultivation and uses
Wild Buckwheat seeds are edible, and were used in the past as a food crop, with remains found in Bronze Age middens 3. The seeds are too small and low-yielding to make a commercial crop, and it is now more widely considered a weed, occurring in crops, waste areas and roadsides. It is also an invasive species in North America 1.
Wild Buckwheat prefers cultivated land, but can survive on many different locales and soil types 2. It can be a damaging weed when it is growing in a garden or crop, as it can not only damage the plant it entwines itself around, but can also hinder mechanised harvesting.
References
- ^ a b Germplasm Resources Information Network: Fallopia convolvulus
- ^ a b c Richard H. Uva, Joseph C. Neal and Joseph M. Ditomaso, 1997. Weeds of The Northeast. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, pp. 276-277.
- ^ Blamey, M. & Grey-Wilson, C., 1989. Flora of Britain and Northern Europe. ISBN 0-340-40170-2.
Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 1 January 2009, at 13:08.
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