ITS HISTORY AND SPECIES. 189 



because its seeds greatly resemble in shape those of the 

 beech tree (beech masts), while their contents, being of a 

 farinaceous character, give them a resemblance to wheat. 

 There are three species of the family cultivated for their 

 grains as bread-corn. 



1. POLYGONUM FAGOPYKUM Common Buckwheat. 



2. POLYGONUM TATARICUM Siberian Buckwheat. 



3. POLYGONUM EMABGINATUM Notched Buckwheat. 



They are all annuals. The first, however, is by far 

 the most valuable, and is said to have been brought 

 originally from Central Asia. It is met with wild in 

 China, Nepaul, and Siberia, and enters more or less into 

 the agriculture of every country where corn crops are cul- 

 tivated. It is a plant of erect habit, from 2 to 8 feet 

 high, with a strong, firm, branching stem, of a purplish 

 red colour, carrying leaves of a heart-shaped, triangular 

 form, much resembling ivy, and hanging bunches of white 

 flowers, or white tinged with red, which give the plant 

 a very pretty appearance (see diagram). The cultivation 

 is carried on very extensively in some countries. In 

 China it has been grown and used from time immemorial 

 as a bread-corn. In Japan it is in general esteem, and is 

 there preferred to most of the other breadstuff's : according 

 to Thunberg, cakes are made of it, and sold at every inn 

 throughout the country. In Russia it is also largely con- 

 sumed. 



In this country it has been known and cultivated for 

 centuries past; having, according to some, been brought 

 back from Palestine by the Crusaders ; and, according to 

 others, having been introduced into Spain by the Moors, 

 and thence into France and this country. In France it 

 still is known by its Moorish name, " ble' de Sarrasin/' 

 Doubtless it is a native of the East, though its exact 

 native country is not very definitely known. In Brittany 

 it forms the bread-corn of the entire population ; in the 



