Common Name: Wild Buckwheat

Latin Name: Polygonum convolvulus

Wild buckwheat is an annual weed that can be found in crop fields, hay fields and waste areas. At the seedling stage, this weed is easily identified by its cotyledons which are linear and positions 120 degrees from each other. Its true leaves are arrow-shaped with pointy tips. Wild buckwheat has a tap root and a twining growth habit. The vines become entangled with the crop causing lodging and making harvest difficult.

When mature, small flowers are produced, although wild buckwheat flowers lack petals, there are five whitish-green sepals that tightly enclose a single seed. Each seed is dull, dark brown to black and triangular in cross section.

From Amanda Homans, Agronomist with McRae Holdings.