Fallopia convolvulus

Bindweed ( Fallopia convolvulus )

The buckwheat or arable Flügelknöterich ( Fallopia convolvulus, syn. Polygonum convolvulus L. ) is a plant of the genus Flügelknöteriche ( Fallopia ) in the family of the buckwheat family ( Polygonaceae ). The EPPO code is Polco. He is regarded as one year " weed ", which germinates primarily in the spring.

Distribution and location

The home of Windenknöterichs extends over much of Eurasia; also in North Africa, he is native. In North America and South Africa, he is now naturalized.

The buckwheat has no special requirements for location, but is increasingly often in slightly acidic, sandy, clayey or humic soils. Since he is a deep-rooting, it is insensitive to drought.

Description

It is an herbaceous plant that grows from one to over a meter long stems crawling or climbing. The stem is at least at the bottom of edgy and rough.

The cotyledons of Windenknöterichs are three or more times as long as wide. The leaf halves are usually unequal. The leaves are heart-shaped and arrow-shaped inclined towards the tip down, in contrast to Convolvulus arvensis. In addition, the leaves are stalked and the veins are clearly visible.

The flowers of Windenknöterichs are white-green and inconspicuous. They stand in groups on long, narrow, spiked - up racemose inflorescences. In the lower part of the inflorescences these small groups are usually farther apart at the top they are more or less dense. The five bracts are dotted densely glandular. The three outer bracts are in contrast to other species Fallopia - winged or only weakly keeled dull. The fruits are 3.5 to 5 mm long, black, matt walnut fruits that are at a 1-3 mm long stalk.

Importance

Charred fruits are seen since the early Neolithic. In the Neolithic village at Ehrenstein they were found in such quantities that they give rise to the speculation that they were grown as a prehistoric " flour fruit."

In one study, it was found that the leaves of the plant that are part of traditional Mediterranean diets, both a potential anti- diabetes, as well as cell - protective properties.

Weed

The buckwheat is found mainly in the early years of cultures, for example in spring cereals, winter cereals, root crops or orchards. The growth of Windenknöterichs is trailing leaf and rich, this can lead to harvest impediments or to yield reduction. For this reason, only a low density is tolerated in agriculture.