Buckwheat

BUCKWHEAT is a quick-growing yearly plant, full-grown for its shining, three-sided fruits or "grain." The plants are resident in Asia, but are grown also in Europe, Africa, and North America.

Three types of buckwheat are grown:

1 Common buckwheat
2 Tartary buckwheat
3 Notched or Winged buckwheat.

The U.S.S.R. is the world's major producer, followed by France, Poland, Canada, and the United States. Pennsylvania and New York make more than half of the United States crop.

The majority buckwheat is raised for the grain, which is fed to poultry, hogs, or cattle. In the United States and Canada, some is complete into pancake flour and other foods. The straw and hulls are used as mulches to defend the roots of plants

From the flowers bees create buckwheat-flavored honey. The drug rutin is taken as of the leaves and flowers. Rutin is used to decrease high blood pressure and is used in the treatment of emission injury.

Buckwheat also is planted as a smother crop to discontinue weed growth; as a cover crop to stop soil erosion; as "green manure" to add humus to soil; and in elsewhere of-the-way places as feed for game birds and animals.