Fagopyrum tataricum
Tartarian Buckwheat
an annual member of the Fagopyrum genus in the family Polygonaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Polygonaceae
- Genus
- Fagopyrum
- Life cycle
- annual
- Height
- 0.8 m
- Fertility
- Bees, Flies
- Flower type
- monoecious
- Pollinators
- Bees, Flies
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The plant has caused photosensitivity in some people, the dehusked grain is said to be safe.
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Leaves - raw or cooked[7][10]. Acceptable raw when added in small quantities to mixed chopped salads, otherwise the leaves are much better cooked[K]. They are rich in rutin. Seed - cooked as a cereal[8][11][1][2][10].The seed can also be sprouted and used in salads, or ground into a powder and used as a cereal[7]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed[6][7].
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Product or use
- Oil
- Plant part
- Seed
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The bark is astringent[9].
- Product or use
- Astringent
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - Himalayas.
- Habitat
- Found at heights up to 4400 metres in the Himalayas from Pakistan to Bhutan.
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - sow from the middle of spring to early summer in situ. The seed usually germinates in 5 days[3]. The earlier sowings are for a seed or leaf crop whilst the later sowings are used mainly for leaf crops or green manure.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
A very easily grown plant, it prefers dry sandy soils but succeeds in most conditions including poor, heavy or acid soils[5] and even sub-soils. Prefers a cool moist climate, also succeeds in dry and arid regions. Tartarian buckwheat is hardier and more resistant to cold than the more commonly grown buckwheat, F. esculentum, though it does not yield so highly[4]. Occasionally cultivated for its edible seed in Europe and the Himalayas[12][13], there is at least one named variety[7]. 'Madawaska' is more cold hardy and drought tolerant than the type[7].
References
Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain.
Bianchini. F., Corbetta. F. and Pistoia. M. Fruits of the Earth.
Natural Food Institute, Wonder Crops. 1987.
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00
Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. 2002-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-527-6
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00
Polunin. O. and Stainton. A. Flowers of the Himalayas. Oxford Universtiy Press 1984-00-00