| Fagopyrum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Fagopyrum esculentum | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Polygonaceae |
| Subfamily: | Polygonoideae |
| Genus: | Fagopyrum Mill.[1] |
| Species | |
See text. | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
ThegenusFagopyrum is in the flowering plant familyPolygonaceae. It includes some important food plants, such asF. esculentum (buckwheat) andF. tataricum (Tartary buckwheat). The genus is native to theIndian subcontinent, much ofIndochina, and central and southeastern China. Species have been widely introduced elsewhere, throughout theHolarctic and parts of Africa and South America.[2]
Fagopyrum contains 15 to 16 species of plants, including two importantcrop plants,buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), andFagopyrum tataricum (Tartary buckwheat). The two have similar uses, and are classed aspseudocereals, because they are used in the same way as cereals but do not belong to the grass familyPoaceae.
WithinFagopyrum, the cultivated species are in the Cymosum group, includingFagopyrum cymosum or perennial buckwheat,[3] the artificial hybridFagopyrum ×giganteum,[4] andFagopyrum homotropicum.[5]
This genus has five-petaled flowers arranged in a compoundraceme that produces laterally floweredcymose clusters.[6]
The genusFagopyrum was first published byPhilip Miller in 1754.[1] It is placed in the tribe Fagopyreae (as the only genus) in the subfamilyPolygonoideae.[7]
As of March 2019[update],Plants of the World Online accepted the following species:[2]
