Polygonum convolvulus L. Black bindweed, wild buckwheat, false buckwheat
Wild buckwheat is a European native. It is a vine that snakes along the ground or clambers over other plants or anything else it can latch onto, winding itself in a clockwise direction around supports. Plants are up to 3′ (1 m) long. At points where leaves attach there is an ocrea, or sheath. Leaves are alternate and roughly triangular to heart-shaped, with smooth edges. The lower corners of each triangle are pointed inward toward the leaf petiole (stem). Leaves are ½-2″ (1.5-6 cm) × ¼-1″ (7-30 mm) wide. Flowers are small, ⅛″ (4 mm) each, in long thin clusters, sort of weird-looking, greenish-white to greenish-pink. |
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Some similar species: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
You are here Polygonum convolvulus |
Polygonum scandens |
Polygonum cilinode |
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Common Name | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Plant | Vine up to 3′ (1 m) long. At leaf nodes there is an ocrea. | Vines up to 20′ (6.1 m) long. Stems are light green to bright red, almost hairless. Where leaves attach to the stem, there is a protective sheath, or ocrea | Stems are 12-197″ (30-500 cm) long. It climbs by twining around other stems, from right to left. There are stiff bristles at each node (ocrea. Each ocrea is 1/16-⅛″ (3-4 mm) long. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Flowers | Small, greenish-pink to greenish-white, in racemes (bunches); individual flowers are ⅛″ (4 mm) long, racemes are up to 2½″ (6.3 cm) long | Racemes are 2-8″ (5-20 cm) long, with small greenish flowers. | Panicles are 1½-4″ (4-10 cm) long, comprised of greenish-white or pink-fringed flowers. Each flower is 5-parted. Flowers appear from June to October. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Leaves | Alternate, triangular or heart-shaped, lower corners of leaves aim inward toward the petiole (leaf stem) | Ovate, approaching sagittate (shaped like an arrowhead), up to 2″ (5 cm) × 4″ (10 cm). Leaf petioles are up to 1½″ (3.8 cm) long | Alternate, oval to triangular, with wavy margins, often with reddish veins standing out. Their stems (petioles) are ⅜-2″ (1-6 cm) long. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fruit | Three-sided, with a single dull black seed | Greenish, with white or pink borders. | ⅛-3/16″ (4-6 mm) seeds are black and very shiny. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Range/ Zones | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Type | Wild | Wild | Wild |
Online References:
The Virginia Tech Weed Identification Guide
SEINet—the Southwest Environmental Information Network
References:
Polygonum convolvulus description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 6 Sep 2021.
Range: