Polygonaceae
Polygonaceae
Polygonaceae (pronounced /ˌpɒlɪɡəˈneɪsiː/), also known as the buckwheat family, is a family of flowering plants. The name is derived from the Greek words "poly" meaning "many" and "gonia" meaning "angle", referring to the shape of the seeds.
Etymology
The name Polygonaceae is derived from the genus Polygonum, and was first used by Antoine Laurent de Jussieu in 1789 in his book, Genera Plantarum. The name Polygonum is derived from the Greek "poly" (many) and "gonia" (angle), referring to the many-angled seeds and stems of some species.
Description
Members of the Polygonaceae family are found worldwide, but are most diverse in the North Temperate Zone. Many are herbs, but some are shrubs or vines. Most species have simple, alternate or rarely opposite leaves. The flowers are small and usually pink or white.
Genera
The family includes about 50 genera and 1200 species. Some of the more well-known genera include Polygonum, Rumex, Fagopyrum, Fallopia, and Rheum.
Economic Importance
Several species are of economic importance as crops, including Fagopyrum esculentum (buckwheat), Rheum rhabarbarum (rhubarb), and Rumex acetosa (sorrel).
Related Terms
- Polygonum: A genus of about 300 species of flowering plant in the family Polygonaceae. Common names include knotweed and knotgrass.
- Rumex: A genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family.
- Fagopyrum: A genus of flowering plants in the buckwheat family which includes three domesticated and several wild species.
- Fallopia: A genus of about 12-15 species of flowering plants in the family Polygonaceae, native to temperate and subtropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
- Rheum: A genus of about 60 perennial plants in the family Polygonaceae, includes the vegetable rhubarb.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Polygonaceae
- Wikipedia's article - Polygonaceae
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