BUCKWHEAT 29 
to any other grain. Although much wheat of fine quality 
is raised abroad, especially in Russia, France, and Austria- 
Hungary, our country produces more than any other. 
Fic. 22.—Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum, Buckwheat Family, Poly- 
gonacee). A, upper part of plant, showing leaves and flower-clusters; 
natural size. B, a flower enlarged, showing the following parts:—in 
the center a single pistil on the ovary of which are borne three styles 
ending in rounded stigmas; around the pistil eight stamens in two rows, 
the inner row of three; between the rows of stamens at their bases, 
eight small protuberances (nectar-glands) which secrete a sweet liquid 
(nectar) from which bees make honey; outside of the other parts of the 
flower come a circle of five more or less leaf-like organs—the sepals— 
together constituting the ‘‘flower-cup”’ or calyx which in this case is 
white or whitish. C, the same showing the arrangement of its parts 
as they appear when the flower is halved vertically. D, stamens. £, 
the pistil enlarged. 4H, fruit, enlarged. F, the same cut lengthwise. 
J, the same, cut across, showing the flat curved embryo or rudimentary 
plantlet surrounded by seed food. G, embryo removed from the seed 
and viewed from the side. (Baillon.)\—The plant grows luxuriantly 
in fields to a height of 0.5-1.m. It is smooth throughout. Bees which 
come for nectar transfer the pollen from flower to flower and SO enable 
the plant to set good seed. 
24. Buckwheat is sometimes included among cereals 
because it is cultivated for its grain. As will be seen, how- 
ever, from Fig. 22 this plant differs very much from the 
