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Botanical Family · Caryophyllales

Polygonaceae

Buckwheat/Knotweed family

14 speciesOrder Caryophyllales8+ well-known plants

Herbs and shrubs with characteristic membranous sheaths (ochrea) at each node. Includes buckwheat, sorrel, dock, and Japanese knotweed.

Browse all 14 species ↓
Representative POLYGONACEAE specimen
Representative specimen · Polygonaceae
Key pattern

Alternate leaves wrapped at the base by a papery, sheath-like stipule (ochrea) hugging the stem at each node; small flowers lack true petals, their colour coming from a persistent calyx instead, and ripen into a three-angled achene.

The papery nodal sheath (ochrea) is diagnostic for the whole family, and tissues in several genera are rich in oxalic acid or tannins, giving a characteristically sour or astringent taste.

Identify the species

Which Polygonaceae species is this?

Answer what you can see and narrow it down to a single Polygonaceae species.

Click a node to trace its path · pinch or scroll to zoom · drag to pan
Leaf ShapeWhat is the overall shape of the leaf blade?
Cordate
Lanceolate
Lanceolate (long, narrow, tapering to a point)
Linear (long and narrow, parallel sides)
Orbicular (round)
Ovate (egg-shaped, broad at base)
Sagittate
Sagittate (arrowhead-shaped)
HabitWhat is the plant's growth habit?
Climbing vine
Herb

How to recognise the Polygonaceae family

  • 01

    Leaf arrangement: alternate

  • 02

    Leaf type: simple

  • 03

    Growth forms: herb/shrub/vine

  • 04

    Inflorescence: spike/raceme/panicle

  • 05

    Fruit: trigonous achene

Typical leaf characters

Characters typical of the family — individual species can vary.

Typical flower & fruit

Typical of the family — flowering plants only; species can vary.

Notable members

Vine Rose, Sandwich Island Creeper, Coral Creeper, Coral Vine, Corallita, Mexican Coral Vine, Mexican Creeper, Pink VineAntigonon leptopusSea GrapeCoccoloba uviferaTapeworm PlantMuehlenbeckia platycladaWavy-Leaf OxygonumOxygonum sinuatumChinese Knot WeedPersicaria chinensisSnowball FlowerPersicaria hastatoauriculataTongue Of Buffalo, Chinese KnotweedPolygonum chinenseCommon Marsh Buckwheat, Denseflower KnotweedPolygonum glabrum

All 14 species in POLYGONACEAE

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