Algae and Plants
49
Fagopyrum tataricum (L.) (Gaertn.)
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Polygonaceae
Common name: Tartary buckwheat.
Distribution: Domesticated in  East
Asia, Southwest China, India.
Habitat: Wetlands, vegetable gardens.
Description: This is an annual growing to 0.8 m. It has five-petaled flowers, monoecious (individual flowers
are either male or female, but both
sexes can be found on the same plant),
arranged in a compound raceme that
produces laterally flowered cymose
clusters. Flowers (2  cm diameter) are
greenish or red in color and are actinomorphic in symmetry. Leaves are pinnately veined and have three sepals.
Young leaves, stems, and blossoms of
this species have been used for both
medicinal and culinary purposes in
Europe and Asia (Healthwithfood.org;
Plants for a Future).
Fagopyrum esculentum (Moench)