584 THE SMALL GRAINS 



but those of economic importance are F. esculentum, the 

 common buckwheat, and F. tataricum, Tatary buck- 

 wheat or India-wheat (Fig. 174 a). The notch-seeded 

 buckwheat is by some given the name F. emarginatum, 

 but by others is considered merely as a form of the com- 

 mon buckwheat. 



The name " buckwheat " is due to the similarity in the 

 shape of the seed to that of the beechnut. The name for 

 beech is in German, Buche, and for buckwheat, Buchweizen. 

 The English name is derived from the German word. 

 The scientific name devised by modern botanists, Fago- 

 pyrum, is from the Latin fagus, beech, and the Greek puros, 

 wheat. 



This grain probably originated in Asia and came 

 into Europe in the Middle Ages through Tatary and 

 Russia, reaching Germany early in the fifteenth century, 

 and from Europe it was introduced into America. The 

 Tatary buckwheat is a native of Tatary and Siberia, 

 from whence it was introduced into Europe (later than 

 the common) and into America. 



647. Varieties of buckwheat. There are three varie- 

 ties of buckwheat commonly grown in the United States, 

 the Japanese, Silver Hull, and Common Gray, all of which 

 belong to the one species, Fagopyrum esculentum. The 

 Tatary buckwheat, duckwheat, or India-wheat is grown 

 to some extent in northern localities, as Canada, Maine, 

 and northern Asia, where it is considered to be more 

 hardy than the common forms. Of the common varie- 

 ties the Japanese has the largest seed, while the Silver 

 Hull has the smallest. In color the Japanese is darkest, 

 the Common Gray is somewhat lighter, while the Silver 

 Hull is of a glossy, silvery appearance. The margins or 

 angles of the hull of the Japanese are inclined to extend 



