Fagopyrum esculentum L.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Tommelen nature reserve, Hasselt, Belgium

Photo: Bart Wursten
Jozef Vermaesenplein, Malderen, Belgium

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Synonyms:	Fagopyrum sagittatum Gilib. Fagopyrum vulgare T. Nees Polygonum fagopyrum L.
Common names:
Frequency:	uncommon
Status:	Introduced
Description:	Erect annual herb up to 60 cm high. Leaves alternate, triangular-cordate, up to 10 cm long, lower leaves petiolate, upper leaves sessile with basal lobes clasping the stems; margin entire or sinuate; petiole up to 8 cm long. Flowers axillary and terminal in bracteate clusters together forming branched racemose heads. Perianth greenish-white, often pink-tipped. Fruit an ovoid, sharply 3-sided nut, 5-7.5 mm long, dull dark brown or grey.
Notes:	This species was formerly widely cultivated as a corn substitute and animal food but now that cultivation has been reduced it has become much less frequent as a weed.
Derivation of specific name:	esculentum: edible
Habitat:	In damp soils along roadsides.
Altitude range: (metres)	1000 - 1300 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Native to Asia and widely cultivated and naturalized elsewhere.
Zimbabwe distribution:	N,C,E,S
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated:	Monday 11 July 2016
Literature:	Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 68. Nogueira, I., Ortiz, S. & Paiva, J.A.R. (2006). Polygonaceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(3) Pages 2 - 3. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 93.

Other sources of information about Fagopyrum esculentum:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Fagopyrum esculentum
Flora of Burundi: Fagopyrum esculentum
Flora of Mozambique: Fagopyrum esculentum
Flora of Zambia: Fagopyrum esculentum
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Fagopyrum esculentum

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Fagopyrum esculentum
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Fagopyrum esculentum
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Fagopyrum esculentum
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Fagopyrum esculentum
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Fagopyrum esculentum
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Fagopyrum esculentum
JSTOR Plant Science: Fagopyrum esculentum
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Fagopyrum esculentum
Plants of the World Online: Fagopyrum esculentum
Tropicos: Fagopyrum esculentum
Wikipedia: Fagopyrum esculentum