Buckwheat family
Description
A family of mainly herbs distributed throughout the world, but concentrated in the northern temperate regions (Polygonaceae 1).
The leaves are usually alternate, simple and entire, with a sheathing stipule at the leaf base. The flowers are usually borne in a raceme, white, green or pink in colour. There are 3-6 sepals, no petals and 6-9 stamens, and a superior ovary. The fruit is a nut, triangular in cross section (Polygonaceae 2).
There are about 50 genera (Polygonaceae 3).
Use
The family provides buckwheat, rhubarb and sorrel.
Described species
Fagopyrum esculentum, buckwheat
Rheum rhaponticum, rhubarb
Rheum acetosa, sorrel, see Rheum rhaponticum