BUC'KWHEAT 



29 



to any other grain. Although nnich wheat of fine quahty 

 is raised abroad, especially in Russia, France, and Austria- 

 Hungary, our country produces more than any other. 



Fig. 22. — Buckwheat (Fagopyrum e^culentum, Buckwheat Family, Poly- 

 gonacece). 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; lietwrcn the rows of stamens at their bases, 

 eight small itrotuberances (inxtar-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 vrtically. D, stamens. E, 

 the pistil enlarged. H, fruit, enlarged. F, the same cut lengthwise. 

 ,/, the same, cut across, showing the flat curved embryo or rudimentary 

 plantlet surrounded by seed food. G, embr\o removed from the seed 

 and viewed from the side. (Baillon.'i — The plant grows lu.xuriantly 

 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 



