ILLINOIS PLANT INFORMATION NETWORK
 
 ILPIN INFORMATION ON    Fagopyrum esculentum
 
 
 CLASS:    DICOTYLEDENAE
 ORDER:    POLYGONALES
 FAMILY:   POLYGONACEAE
 SCIENTIFIC NAME:  Fagopyrum esculentum
 AUTHORITY:  Moench.
 
 COMMON NAMES:
    BUCKWHEAT
    GOOSE BUCKWHEAT
    INDIA-WHEAT
 
 SYNONOMY:
     Polygonum fagopyrum L.
     Fagopyrum sagittatum Gilib.
     Fagopyrum fagopyrum (L.) Karst.
 
 PLANTS CODE: FASA
 
 NATURAL COMMUNITIES:
     CULTURAL
       AGRICULTURAL FIELD
       SUCCESSIONAL FIELD
       DEVELOPED LAND
 
 
 SAF FOREST COVER TYPE:
     NO
 
 NATURAL DIVISION:  UNAVAILABLE
 
 COUNTIES:
   ADAMS           ALEXANDER       BOONE           CALHOUN         CHAMPAIGN
   COOK            CUMBERLAND      DEKALB          DUPAGE          FAYETTE
   GRUNDY          HANCOCK         JACKSON         KANE            KANKAKEE
   KENDALL         LAKE            LASALLE         LEE             MCHENRY
   MACOUPIN        MASON           MOULTRIE        PEORIA          PERRY
   PIKE            RANDOLPH        ST. CLAIR       SANGAMON        STARK
   TAZEWELL        UNION           WABASH          WILL            WOODFORD
 
 
 GROWTH FORM:  Dicot-herb
 
 TAXONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS:
    LEAF ARRANGEMENT:   Alternate
    LEAF TYPE:   Simple
    LEAF MARGIN:   Entire
    LEAF VENATION:  Pinnate
    LEAF SHAPE:       Cordate     Sagittate
    INFLORESCENCE:   Spike  Corymb
    FLOWER STRUCTURE:   Incomplete  (no petals)   Regular
    FLOWER COLOR:   White   Others
    FLOWER PLACEMENT:  Hypogynous
    FRUIT:   Achene
 
 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION:
     ORIGIN:   Introduced-  Asia
 
 GEOGRAPHIC COMMENTS:
     Species is native of central Asia; occasional in northern 3/4
     of Illinois, apparently absent elsewhere.
 
 POPULATION DYNAMICS:
     STATE STATUS: Not listed
     FEDERAL STATUS: Not listed
     COMMONNESS:  Occasional
     ENDEMIC:   NOT-ENDEMIC
 POPULATION STATUS COMMENTS:
     Species commonly escaped but not long persistent.
 
 
 BIOLOGIC:
     HABIT:   Forb
     LIFE CYCLE:   Annual
     REPRODUCTION:   Sexual
     FLOWERING PERIOD:
         MONTH BEGINNING-      6         MONTH END-      9
     TROPHIC STATUS:  Autotrophic
     SEX:      Perfect
 
 ECODISTRIBUTION COMMENTS:
     Species is distributed in wastelands, fields, along roadsides and
     railroads.
 
 ENVIRONMENTAL RELATIONSHIPS:   No data entered
 
 ENVIRONMENTAL RELATIONS COMMENTS:
     Species thrives on poor soils - mud, peat, light sandy soil.
 
 
 FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS:
     MYCORRHIZAE:   no
 
 HUMAN RELATIONSHIP DATA:    No data entered
 
 HUMAN FACTOR COMMENTS:
     Buckwheat flour is made from achenes; some people develop rashes
     after eating buckwheat flour products, or after touching the leaves;
     fragrant flowers are source of buckwheat honey.
 
 WILDLIFE AND LIVESTOCK INFORMATION:
     FOOD VALUE:
         DEER VALUE:    Good   -   Fruit
         UPLAND GAME VALUE:    Good   -   Fruit
         WATERFOWL VALUE:  Unknown
         SMALL NON-GAME BIRD VALUE:    Good   -   Fruit
         SMALL MAMMAL VALUE:    Good   -   Fruit
         AQUATIC MAMMAL VALUE:  Unknown
         FISH VALUE:  Unknown
     COVER VALUE:  No data entered
 
     WILDLIFE COMMENTS:
         Terrestrial furbearers (especially squirrels) eat seeds.
 
 
 LIVESTOCK PALATABILITY DATA:  No data entered
 
 LIVESTOCK COMMENTS:
     Stock of all types with uncolored skin may be poisoned if they
     are exposed to sun directly after eating buckwheat; inflammation,
     swelling of ears, face and eyelids with itching, blisters on skin.
 
 REVEGETATION PLANTINGS:
     ESTABLISHMENT REQUIREMENTS:  Easy
     SHORT-TERM REVEGETATION POTENTIAL:  Good
 
     WEEDINESS:   Non-weedy
     SEED AVAILABILITY:   Fair
 
 
 
 PROCUREMENT COMMENTS:
     Seed company numbers: 1,8,11,43,44,53.
 
 PROPAGATION COMMENTS:
         Form - seeds available in May, June, and early July at 25 lbs./acre.
 
 MANAGEMENT COMMENTS:
     Plants often grown as "green manure"; discarded hulls
     and fruit remains used as summer mulch for roses and other flower
     beds.
 
 
 REFERENCES:
Mohlenbrock, R. H., ed.  1975.  Guide to the vascular flora of Illinois.
     Southern Illinois University Press, Carbondale.  494 pp.
Steyermark, J. A.  1963.  Flora of Missouri.  Iowa State University Press, Ames.
     1725 pp.
Anon.  1981.  Illinois plants for habitat restoration.  Illinois Department of
     Conservation, Mining Program.  Springfield, Illinois.  61 pp.
Gleason, H. A.  1952.  The new Britton and Brown illustrated flora of the
     northeastern United States and adjacent Canada.  3 vols.  The New York
     Botanical Garden, New York.
 
 END OF DATA FOR SPECIES  Fagopyrum esculentum
 
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 ILPIN was developed by Louis Iverson*, with data compiled by David Ketzner and Jeanne Karnes
 Illinois Natural History Survey, 607 E. Peabody Dr., Champaign, IL 61820
     *currently employed by USDA Forest Service, 359 Main Rd., Delaware, OH 43015