Family: Polygonaceae
Author: (L.) Gaertn.
Bibliography: Fruct. Sem. Pl. 2: 182 (1790)
Year: 1790
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Fagopyrum
Vegetable: False
Observations: Tibet to C. China
Description
India buckwheat, botanically known as Fagopyrum tataricum, is a noteworthy member of the Polygonaceae family. This plant, which was first categorized by the eminent botanist Johann Georg Adam Forster (Gaertn.), is extensively found across a stretch from Tibet to Central China. Known for its resilience and adaptability, India buckwheat thrives in the cold, high-altitude regions of these areas, which speak volumes about its hardy nature.
This plant is not only an agricultural staple in its native regions but also plays a crucial role in the local diets and cultures. Its seeds are rich in nutrients, making it a valuable crop for both human consumption and livestock feed. Furthermore, India buckwheat’s seeds are employed in a variety of culinary dishes, often ground into flour for baking or cooking due to their gluten-free properties.
Fagopyrum tataricum is distinguished by its robust growth and ability to flourish even under less-than-ideal soil conditions, a characteristic that makes it a preferred choice for cultivation in regions with challenging agricultural landscapes. The plants bear small, white to greenish-pink flowers, which attract a range of pollinators, thereby supporting local biodiversity.
Historically, India buckwheat has also been part of traditional medicine, utilized for its purported health benefits, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Modern research continues to explore the potential health impacts of this resilient and versatile plant.
The first detailed account of India buckwheat appeared in the publication “Fruct. Sem. Pl. 2: 182” in the year 1790, providing foundational knowledge about this species that continues to be built upon by contemporary botanists and agriculturalists.
Overall, Fagopyrum tataricum stands as a significant plant both ecologically and economically, appreciated for its role in sustaining both environmental health and human wellbeing in the areas where it is cultivated.
Common Names
Fra: blé noir fourrager, sarrasin de tartarie, renouée de tartarie
Eng: duckwheat, green buckwheat, india buckwheat, india-wheat, japanese buckwheat, tartarian buckwheat, tartary buckwheat
Deu: falscher buchweizen, tataren-buchweizen, tatarischer buchweizen
Nld: franse boekweit
Dan: tatarisk boghvede
Lit: totorinis grikis
Spa: alforfón de tartaria
Ita: grano saraceno siberiano
Est: idatatar
Ces: pohanka tatarská
Swe: sibiriskt bovete, tatarbokvete, tatarbovete
Lav: tatarij
En: India buckwheat, India-wheat, Duckwheat, Green buckwheat, Tartary buckwheat, Japanese buckwheat, Tartarian Buckwheat, Kangra Buckwheat, Rough Buckwheat
Ar: حنطة تترية
Hy: Հնդկացորեն թաթարական
Az: Tatar qarabaşağı
Be: Грэчка татарская
Br: Gwinizh-du Tartaria
Ca: Fajol boig
Zh: Ku chiao mai, Ku qiao, 印度蕎麥
Cs: Pohanka tatarská
Da: Tatarisk boghvede
Nl: Franse boekweit, Himalaya Boekweit
Et: Idatatar
Fi: Rikkatatar, Rikkatattari
Fr: Sarrasin de Tartarie, Blé noir fourrager, Renouée de Tartarie
De: Tatarischer Buchweizen, Tataren-Buchweizen, Falscher Buchweizen
Hi: Kaspat
Hu: Tatárka
Is: Tatarabókhveiti
It: Grano saraceno siberiano, Grano Saraceno di Siberia
Kk: Ноғай қарақұмығы
Ko: 타타리메밀
Lv: Tatārijas griķis, Tatarij
Lt: Totorinis grikis
Pl: Gryka tatarka
Pt: Max
Ru: Grečicha tatarskaja, Tatarka
Sk: Pohánka tatárska
Es: Alforfón de Tartaria, Tatarska ajda
Sv: Sibiriskt bovete, Tatarbokvete, Tatarbovete
Zh-tw: 印度蕎麥
Wa: Boûkete di Tatareye
Synonyms
- Helxine tartarica (Kuntze)
- Fagopyrum tataricum var. rotundatum ((Bab.) Alef.)
- Fagopyrum tataricum var. vulgare (Alef.)
- Fagopyrum dentatum (Moench)
- Polygonum sinarum (Desv. ex Meisn.)
- Fagopyrum rotundatum (Bab.)
- Fagopyrum suffruticosum (F.Schmidt)
- Fagopyrum subdentatum (Gilib.)
- Fagopyrum tataricum subsp. potaninii ((Batalin) Ohnishi)
- Fagopyrum tataricum var. potaninii (Batalin)
- Polygonum occidentale (Meisn.)
- Polygonum tataricum (L.)
- Phegopyrum tataricum ((L.) Peterm.)
Distribution
- China North-Central (native)
- China South-Central (native)
- Tibet (native)
- Afghanistan (introduced)
- Albania (introduced)
- Alberta (introduced)
- Altay (introduced)
- Amur (introduced)
- Bangladesh (introduced)
- Belgium (introduced)
- Buryatiya (introduced)
- Central European Rus (introduced)
- China Southeast (introduced)
- Chita (introduced)
- Czechoslovakia (introduced)
- Denmark (introduced)
- East European Russia (introduced)
- East Himalaya (introduced)
- Finland (introduced)
- France (introduced)
- Germany (introduced)
- Great Britain (introduced)
- Inner Mongolia (introduced)
- Irkutsk (introduced)
- Japan (introduced)
- Kamchatka (introduced)
- Kazakhstan (introduced)
- Khabarovsk (introduced)
- Kirgizstan (introduced)
- Krasnoyarsk (introduced)
- Magadan (introduced)
- Maine (introduced)
- Manchuria (introduced)
- Masachusettes (introduced)
- Michigan (introduced)
- Mongolia (introduced)
- Myanmar (introduced)
- Nepal (introduced)
- Netherlands (introduced)
- New Brunswick (introduced)
- New Hampshire (introduced)
- New York (introduced)
- Newfoundland (introduced)
- North Caucasus (introduced)
- North European Russi (introduced)
- Northwest European R (introduced)
- Norway (introduced)
- Nova Scotia (introduced)
- Ontario (introduced)
- Pakistan (introduced)
- Pennsylvania (introduced)
- Poland (introduced)
- Primorye (introduced)
- Qinghai (introduced)
- Québec (introduced)
- Rhode I. (introduced)
- Romania (introduced)
- Sakhalin (introduced)
- Saskatchewan (introduced)
- South European Russi (introduced)
- Sweden (introduced)
- Tadzhikistan (introduced)
- Transcaucasus (introduced)
- Tuva (introduced)
- Ukraine (introduced)
- Vermont (introduced)
- West Himalaya (introduced)
- West Siberia (introduced)
- West Virginia (introduced)
- Xinjiang (introduced)
- Yakutskiya (introduced)
- Yugoslavia (introduced)
Additional Images
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Flower
Taken Dec 13, 2020 by John (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 31, 2022 by Irene Rex (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 17, 2020 by Karin Gullhav (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 24, 2022 by Isabelle Debroise (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 8, 2021 by Pümmi Holti (cc-by-sa)
Leaf
Taken Jul 14, 2021 by Ambrogio Crippa (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 8, 2022 by Jipi Teulieres (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 8, 2021 by Pümmi Holti (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 18, 2022 by Jérôme Perrin (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 18, 2022 by Jérôme Perrin (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc)
Taken Jul 18, 2020 by rose lili (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 18, 2022 by Jérôme Perrin (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken Jul 3, 2022 by ciro mihu (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 2, 2020 by Julien Halska (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc)
Taken Oct 18, 2022 by Jérôme Perrin (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken Jan 1, 1970 by Photoflora – L’Abbé COSTE (©)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2889378)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:694553-1)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Fagopyrum tataricum (L.) Gaertn.)
Specifications
Growth form>: Single Crown
Growth habit>: Forb/herb
Growth rate>: Rapid
Growth
Ph maximum: 6.5
Ph minimum: 4.6
Light: 8
Atmospheric humidity: 5
Bloom months: [‘jul’, ‘aug’, ‘sep’]
Soil nutriments: 6