Putnam Park Wildflowers


Flower ID: IMG_7010.JPG-06-27-2023
Flower name (scientific): Fagopyrum esculentum Moench PY: 1794. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) fah-goh-PY-rum (or fay-go-PY-rum) es-kew-LEN-tum
Flower name (common): Common Buckwheat
Family name (common): Buckwheat
Family name (scientific): Polygonaceae
Scientific name origin:
     Genus: Derived from the Latin fagus referring to beech tree, and to the Greek pyros (purós) meaning wheat. Also suggested from pyrum meaning nut. The seeds are said to resemble beech mast, the edible nuts of the beech usually on the ground.
    Specific epithet: The name esculentum means edible, referencing the grain-like seeds of the plant.
Common name origin: Buckwheat (syn. beech-wheat) comes from the resemblance of the seeds to those of the beech tree, and the use of the seeds in a manner similar to wheat.
Flower description:
     Size: 0.2 to 0.3 inches (5 to 8 mm)
     Petal count: 5
     Color: white
     Other: flower arrangement, Cluster-cyme
Plant description:
     Size: 6 to 36 inches (15 to 91 cm)
     Stem hairy:
     Other:
Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is simple
     Size:
     Color:
     Hairy:
     Other: Shape: leaf, hastate-triangular, sagittate-triangular, or cordate (FNA), sagitate or cordate (IL)
Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Introduced
Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common
Bloom time (typical): June to September
Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Annual
Habitat: Disturbed areas, waste areas, roadsides, fields, semi shade to sun.
Fruit:
Seed:
Importance to wildlife:
Similar species (if any): No close lookalikes.
Ethnobotany: No recorded uses by tribes from Wisconsin. The Iroquois used the plant as a pediatric aid (Moerman, p. 231, 1998).
Latitude:
Longitude:
Altitude:
Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Ashland, Bayfield, Brown, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Douglas, Dunn, Forest, Grant, Green, Jackson, Juneau, Kenosha, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marinette, Milwaukee, Oconto, Oneida, Racine, Rock, Sheboygan, Taylor, Vernon, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Wood) Click here for distribution map
In US: (AK, AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY) Click here for distribution map
In Canada: (AB, BC, MB, NB, NF, NS, ON, PE, QC, SK, YT) Click here for distribution map
References:
Synonym(s):
Basionym: Polygonum fagopyrum Linnaeus Sp. Pl. 1: 364. 1753.
Homotypic Synonym(s):
Heterotypic Synonym(s):
Autonym: na
Wetland Status (NC): Not listed
Wetland Status (MW): Not listed