Polygonaceae

Taxonomy

Family name: Polygonaceae Jussieu

Synonym(s): Calligonaceae Khalk.; Coccolobaceae F. A. Barkley, nom. nud.; Eriogonaceae G. Don; Persicariaceae Martinov; Rumicaceae Martinov

Common name(s): buckwheat family

*Number of genera/species: 53/1,200

List of genera records in GRIN-Global

Disseminule

fruit

Description

Fruit usually indehiscentindehiscent:
not opening on its own, as in a fruit
acheneachene:
a dry, indehiscent, one-seeded fruit, with seed attached to pericarp at a single point
, surrounded by fleshyfleshy:
texture—fairly firm and dense, juicy or at least moist, and easily cut
or dry indehiscentindehiscent:
not opening on its own, as in a fruit
, often accrescentaccrescent:
growing continuously
perianth, rarely samarasamara:
a winged, indehiscent, dry fruit containing a single (rarely two) seed(s)
(Afrobrunnichia, Brunnichia), 1–12 mm long, usually trigonoustrigonous:
3D shape—having three faces that meet at distinct angles; triangular in outline
, sometimes 2-angled (rarely 4), lens-shapedlens-shaped:
2D shape—round and flattened with two curved (convex) surfaces
, ovoidovoid:
3D shape—ovate
, or ellipsoidellipsoid:
3D shape—elliptic
, or rarely globoseglobose:
3D shape—more or less spherical
(Rheum spp.), coiledcoiled:
(of embryo) linear embryo is very long and bent to form a coil whereby one end of the embryo is on the outside and the other end near the middle of the seed
(Calligonum), reniformreniform:
2D or 3D shape—kidney-shaped
(Rheum nanum), usually 3-angled and tereteterete:
approximately circular in cross section; width and thickness approximately equal
or compressedcompressed:
flattened; in grasses, used to denote compression (not necessarily flattened) either laterally or dorsiventrally
in transectiontransection:
a cross section; representing a plane made by cutting across an organ at a right angle to its length
, stylestyle:
in a flower, the narrow and elongated part of the pistil between the stigma and the ovary; sometimes persisting in fruit
persistent, rarely beakedbeak:
a usually firm, terminal appendage, sometimes tapered
(Petrophyrum), pericarppericarp:
fruit wall or fruit coat
or perianthperianth:
collective term for calyx and corolla of a flower
winged, if winged, with three laterallateral:
(of embryo) embryo lies along the side of the seed, generally towards one end; of, at, or from the side; in grasses, can refer to the sides adjacent to the dorsal and ventral sides
wings, usually membranousmembranous:
texture—extremely thin, pliable, and fairly tough
, leatheryleathery:
texture—moderately thick, tough, and very pliable
, or hardened. Fruit 1-seeded, enclosed by fleshyfleshy:
texture—fairly firm and dense, juicy or at least moist, and easily cut
floral tube (Coccoloba), fleshyfleshy:
texture—fairly firm and dense, juicy or at least moist, and easily cut
tepals (Muehlenbeckia, Symmeria), leatheryleathery:
texture—moderately thick, tough, and very pliable
expanded and flattened floral tube forming wings (Afrobrunnichia, Brunnichia), enlarged receptacle (Oxygonum, Rumex spp.), or dry, accrescentaccrescent:
growing continuously
perianth or calyxcalyx:
the outer whorl of the perianth; all the sepals of a flower
, which may develop into wings and/or harden into tubercles (Rumex spp.). Or, fruit 1-seeded and perianthperianth:
collective term for calyx and corolla of a flower
not enlarged in fruit (e.g. Polygonum). Pericarppericarp:
fruit wall or fruit coat
black, brown, gray, purple-red, red, or, yellow, dulldull:
reflecting only a low proportion of incident light, with no apparent sheen
, shinyshiny:
uniformly reflecting a high proportion of incident light at all angles
, or opaqueopaque:
not transmitting light
, crustaceouscrustaceous:
texture—thin, dry, indurate, and brittle
or thinthin:
having or being of relatively little depth
, glabrousglabrous:
without hairs
or pubescentpubescent:
surface relief—bearing hairs
. Perianthperianth:
collective term for calyx and corolla of a flower
derived wings maybe different color than acheneachene:
a dry, indehiscent, one-seeded fruit, with seed attached to pericarp at a single point
. Surface relief, of pericarppericarp:
fruit wall or fruit coat
or more likely persistent perianthperianth:
collective term for calyx and corolla of a flower
, smooth or groovedgrooved:
surface relief—linear depressions that may be single or form a series of grooves over the surface
, ribbedribbed:
surface relief—wide, prominent, linear ridges that are generally rounded and longitudinally situated on the surface
, pittedpitted:
surface relief—surface with small depressions in which the areas between the hollows do not take on the appearance of a true reticular net
, rough, granulargranular:
surface relief—having a grainy surface
, punctatepunctate:
surface relief—dotted with pits or with translucent, sunken glands or with colored dots, similar to pitted
, striatestriate:
surface relief—having fine, parallel lines, grooves or ridges
, prickly, wartywarty:
surface relief—distinct, rounded projections that are large relative to the fruit size; tuberculate, verrucose
(Rumex), or with soft or stiff, forked or not bristles (Calligonum spp., Pteropyrum spp.), terminal stellatestellate:
star-shaped; with radiating branches
barbs (Fagopyrum snowdenii), or reflexed hornshorn:
a straight or curved, slenderly conic or conoidal protrusion, resembling an animal horn
(Rumex spp.).

Seed globoseglobose:
3D shape—more or less spherical
to trigonoustrigonous:
3D shape—having three faces that meet at distinct angles; triangular in outline
, usually angledangular:
2D shape—having sides that meet at acute or obtuse angles
, tereteterete:
approximately circular in cross section; width and thickness approximately equal
, lens-shapedlens-shaped:
2D shape—round and flattened with two curved (convex) surfaces
, or angledangular:
2D shape—having sides that meet at acute or obtuse angles
, 1–7 mm long. Margins, if winged. Seed coat black, brown, or red- or yellow-brown, dulldull:
reflecting only a low proportion of incident light, with no apparent sheen
, glabrousglabrous:
without hairs
, smooth.

Embryo well developed, completely or partially filling seed coat, peripheralperipheral:
(of embryo) embryo is curved around the outer edge of the seed, near the seed coat
, axileaxile:
on or of the axis
and excentric, or rarely centric, linearlinear:
(shape) long, narrow, and uniform in width; (of embryo) embryo is straight and much longer than wide
, straight or often curvedcurved:
(of embryo) linear embryo is curved into an arch or horseshoe with the ends far apart
, usually lying in one of the angles of the seed. Cotyledons thinthin:
having or being of relatively little depth
, foliaceous or not, flat, once-folded, or convoluted.

Endosperm endosperm:
nutritive starch- and oil-containing tissue present in many seeds
copious, opaqueopaque:
not transmitting light
or transparent, fleshyfleshy:
texture—fairly firm and dense, juicy or at least moist, and easily cut
, horny, mealymealy:
loose, dry, and disintegrating in finely granular pieces like meal or flour
, or granulargranular:
surface relief—having a grainy surface
, sometimes ruminateruminate:
testa or seed coat folded into the endosperm
.

Habitat and crop association

Noxious Weeds: USA Federal Noxious Weed List, Rumex hypogaeus T.M. Schuster & Reveal, Rumex spinosa Linnaeus, terrestrial.

More about these species on the Federal Noxious Weed Disseminules of the US ID tool, under Emex.

Identification features

Fruit
Type	acheneachene: a dry, indehiscent, one-seeded fruit, with seed attached to pericarp at a single point
Size range	1–12 mm long
Shape(s)	usually trigonoustrigonous: 3D shape—having three faces that meet at distinct angles; triangular in outline , also 2-angled (rarely 4), lens-shapedlens-shaped: 2D shape—round and flattened with two curved (convex) surfaces , globoseglobose: 3D shape—more or less spherical , ovoidovoid: 3D shape—ovate , ellipsoidellipsoid: 3D shape—elliptic , coiledcoiled: (of embryo) linear embryo is very long and bent to form a coil whereby one end of the embryo is on the outside and the other end near the middle of the seed , reniform
Texture	crustaceous crustaceous: texture—thin, dry, indurate, and brittle or thin
Surface relief	smooth, groovedgrooved: surface relief—linear depressions that may be single or form a series of grooves over the surface , ribbedribbed: surface relief—wide, prominent, linear ridges that are generally rounded and longitudinally situated on the surface , pittedpitted: surface relief—surface with small depressions in which the areas between the hollows do not take on the appearance of a true reticular net , rough, granulargranular: surface relief—having a grainy surface , punctatepunctate: surface relief—dotted with pits or with translucent, sunken glands or with colored dots, similar to pitted , striatestriate: surface relief—having fine, parallel lines, grooves or ridges , prickly, wartywarty: surface relief—distinct, rounded projections that are large relative to the fruit size; tuberculate, verrucose , with bristles, barbs, or reflexed horns
Color(s)	black, brown, gray, purple-red, red, yellow
Unique features	Usually trigonoustrigonous: 3D shape—having three faces that meet at distinct angles; triangular in outline achenesachene: a dry, indehiscent, one-seeded fruit, with seed attached to pericarp at a single point often winged or enclosed by persistent, accrescentaccrescent: growing continuously , dry or fleshyfleshy: texture—fairly firm and dense, juicy or at least moist, and easily cut , perianthperianth: collective term for calyx and corolla of a flower , if dry maybe winged.
Seed
Size range	1–7 mm long
Shape(s)	trigonous, ovoidovoid: 3D shape—ovate , cordiformcordiform: 3D shape—heart-shaped ellipsoid, globose
Surface relief	smooth
Color(s)	black, brown, red-brown, yellow-brown
Unique features	Dull, brown or black, glabrousglabrous: without hairs , smooth seeds tightly adhered to pericarppericarp: fruit wall or fruit coat , with punctatepunctate: surface relief—dotted with pits or with translucent, sunken glands or with colored dots, similar to pitted hilahilum: on seeds, the scar indicating where the funiculus was attached; on grass caryopses, the scar visible on the outer fruit surface revealing where the seed is attached on the inner fruit wall surface; or in Asteraceae cypselae, the scar visible on the outer fruit wall revealing where the fruit was attached to the receptacle and copious endospermendosperm: nutritive starch- and oil-containing tissue present in many seeds .
Other
Embryo	well developed, completely or partially filling seed coat, peripheralperipheral: (of embryo) embryo is curved around the outer edge of the seed, near the seed coat , axileaxile: on or of the axis and excentric, or rarely centric, linearlinear: (shape) long, narrow, and uniform in width; (of embryo) embryo is straight and much longer than wide , straight or often curvedcurved: (of embryo) linear embryo is curved into an arch or horseshoe with the ends far apart , usually lying in one of the angles of the seed. Cotyledons thinthin: having or being of relatively little depth , foliaceous or not, flat, once-folded, or convoluted.
Nutritive tissuenutritive tissue: tissue within the seeds that nourishes the developing embryo; such as endosperm, perisperm, or chalazosperm in angiosperms; megagametophyte in gymnosperms	endosperm endosperm: nutritive starch- and oil-containing tissue present in many seeds copious, opaqueopaque: not transmitting light or transparent, fleshyfleshy: texture—fairly firm and dense, juicy or at least moist, and easily cut , horny, mealymealy: loose, dry, and disintegrating in finely granular pieces like meal or flour , or granulargranular: surface relief—having a grainy surface , sometimes ruminate

Distribution

Worldwide, especially north temperate regions.

Distribution map courtesy of Angiosperm Phylogeny Website.

References

Cornejo F and Janovec J. 2010; Flora of Australia 2021+; Flora of North America Editorial Committee 1993+; Kirkbride et al. 2006; Kubitzki et al. 1990+; Noxious Weed Regulations 2020; PlantNET 2021+; Takhtajan 2009; USDA 1980; Zhengyi et al. 2004+

*The number of genera and species is based on Christenhusz and Byng 2016, which may differ from the number of genera in GRIN-Global.