Wild Buckwheat, Black Bindweed

Polygonum convolvulus L.

Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family)

▲ ▼  seedlings

▲ ▼ twining stems with axillary flowers

▲ ▼ twining stems with axillary flowers

▲ ▼ close-up on leaves, stems

▲ ▼ wild buckwheat climbing fence

▲ ▼ flowers

Wild buckwheat:

·        a summer-annual vine member of the Smartweed family

·        vine can grow 10-15' long and longer

·        leaves triangular to heart-shaped-- similar to bindweeds except have ochrea at nodes

·        flowers greenish-white papery clustered inflorescences

·        can be serious weed in agronomic and horticultural crops, seed is similar in size to many crop seeds

·        also used as a smother crop, but must kill prior to flowering

·        similar to the perennial false buckwheat, but wild buckhwheat has smaller flowers and smaller wings on fruit

·        control:  cultivation, pre-emergent herbicides