Wild buckwheat (Polygonum convolvulus)

Wild buckwheat description

Roots are fibrous. Stems begin growing erect, but soon become a creeping vine. Stems are branched at the base and a sheath surrounds the stem at the base of the leaf stalk. Rough hairs cover the stem. The leaves are simple, alternate, heart-shaped with a pointed tip and smooth margins.

Propagation

Annual. Seeds.

Similar species

Field Bindweed. Wild buckwheat can be differentiated from field bindweed by the root systems, flower shape and color, and the presence of the papery sheaths (ochrea) surrounding the stems at the bases of leaf stalks. Wild buckwheat can be differentiated from tartary buckwheat by its' twining stems. Tartary buckwheat is erect and does not twine.

Distribution

Found throughout the United States.

Identifying Wild buckwheat

Seedling

Cotyledons lanceolate to elliptic, attached at 120 degrees to each other when viewed from the top. True leaves are arrowhead to heart-shaped, longer than they are broad. Papery sheath (ochrea) surrounds stem at base of leaf stalk.

Mature plant

Twining or creeping, branched from the base. Stems can be up to 6 feet or more in length. Stems smooth. Papery sheaths encircle stems at bases of leaf stalks.

Leaves alternate, arrowhead to heart-shaped, pointed tip, 1 to 2 inches long, smooth edge, green to olive green, with long stalks.

Root structure description

Taproot.