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Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum)

Buckwheat in flower.	Buckwheat shoot with fruit and flowers

Source: Bock D., MPI Köln

Distribution, Yield, Use:

• Distribution:
  Grown in Asia, Russia, North America, Mid and West Europe. Undemanding and fast growing, but sensitive to frost; thrives on poor, sandy soils.
• Yield:
  5 - 20 dt/ha
• Use:
  Production of groats, porridge,flour additive, green fodder green manure, beekeeping. 10% protein, 70% carbohydrate, 2% fat in grain.

Region of origin: Region of cultivation:

• Cultivation and Breeding:
  Buckwheat is occasionally designated a cereal, although it does not belong to the grass family. The name "Buckwheat" is derived from the Old German / Dutch names for Beech and wheat, since the Buckwheat fruit is reminiscent of beech nuts. Buckwheat arrived in Mid Europe with the Mongols in the 14th century, from its Central Asiatic home. It still shows clearly the characteristics of a wild plant. The harvesting of the fruit is made difficult by the non-uniform ripening. Buckwheat has been largely supplanted as a foodstuff by cereals bearing higher yields.
• Breeding aims:
  Increasing the yield, uniform ripening and better resistance to cold are priorities.

Text by Dr. Wolfgang Schuchert
Adapted to HTML by R.Saedler