STRUCTURE OF BUCKWHEAT 



40 X 



alteraatCi triangular, about as long as broad, vaiying in both 

 dimensions from t^vo to four inches, borne upon a pedicel 

 var}dng from nearly sessile to nearly four inches in length. At 

 the point where the branches or leaves arise upon the stem the 

 stipule is developed into a legging known as an ochrea. The 

 growth of the stem is from the tip instead of from the base, as is 

 the case in the grass family. 



571. The Flowers. — The pinkish white flowers are borne in 

 a flat-topped cluster in the axils of the leaves and at the end of 

 the stem or branch. There are no petals, 

 but the sepals of the calyx have the ap- 

 pearance of petals. The calyx remains 

 attached upon threshing at the base of the 

 ripened grain. There are eight stamens 

 and one three-parted pistil. There are 

 two form of fiowers, one with long stamens 

 and short st}'les and the other with short 

 stamens and long styles. Each plant bears 

 but one form and the plants bearing the 

 two forms are about equally divided. The 

 New Jersey Station has shown that the 

 fertility of the soil does not influence the 

 ratio of the two forms and that seed from 



either form produce plants with both Buckwheat flowe,c: vanet>', 

 , o , , , lit silver huil, ooe-ha f natural 



forms m about equal numbers ; although 



a slight tendency to follow the parent 



form was thought to be observed.^ The 



crossing betw^een the two unlike forms by insect visitation is 



believed tc be secured by this arrangement 



572. The Grain. — The grain of buckwheat is called an 

 achene, and consists of a single seed enclosed in the pericarp. 

 The pericarp in a mature grain is a thick, hard hull with a 



sire; blossorr on left -ong 

 stamen and short style form, 

 natural s'm 



I N. J. Rpt 1900, p. 458^ 1901, p. 445 



