Weeds

Fagopyrum tataricum (L.) Gaertn. - Buckwheat tatar.

Classification.

Family Polygonaceae Juss., genus Fagopyrum Mill.

Synonyms.

F. suffruticosum Fr. Schmidt

Morphology and biology.

Annual herbaceous plant. Stem 30-80 (max 100) cm in height, yellowish green, occasionally tinged with red; single, erect, hollow, and branched from the lower nodes. Petiole length is about the same as that of blade. Leaves (3-8 cm) ranging in shape from triangular to sagittate. Perianth (1.8-2.5 mm length), green in color. Stamens 8; nectaries disengaged, of globular shape. Styles 3, slender, stigma capitate. Inflorescenes are racemose but highly lax, consisting of cymes formed by 4-6 flowers, pedunculate, axillary, located at apex of stem. Nuts grey, with furrowed, irregularly rugose faces, 4.5-5.5 mm. Blossoming during July and August. Chromosome number=16.

Distribution.

European part of the former USSR, the Caucasus, west and east Siberia, Middle Asia, the Far East, North America. Native to Siberia and western Central Asia, where it is also cultivated.

Ecology.

Usually in forest, forest-steppe and steppes zones on comparatively fertile lands. Non-native plant on railway embankments and roads, trash dumps near habitation, grain storage area, river banks, and precipices. One plant produces 300-400 seeds. Seeds germinate only in humid soil at + 8°C. Shoots do not survive during spring frost whereas mature plants die when first autumn frost occurs.

Economic value.

Segetal weed mainly of buckwheat and grains. Control measures: pre-sowing tillage, under-winter plowing when sprouting.

Reference citations:

Jonsell, B., ed. 2000. Flora Nordica. Stockholm: Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. V. 1: 254.
Keller B.A., ed. 1934. Weed plants of the USSR. Leningrad: Publishing House Acad. Sci. USSR. V. 2: 86-87.
Komarov, V.L., ed. 1936. Flora of the USSR. Moscow-Leningrad: Publishing House Acad. Sci. USSR. V. 5: 649-650.
Nikitin V.V. 1983. Weed plants in the flora of the USSR. Leningrad: Nauka. 454 p.
Ul'yanova T.N. 1998. Weeds in the flora of Russia and other CIS countries. St. Petersburg: VIR. 343 p.

© Doronina A.Yu.