Classification and systematics of the Fagopyrum species

Fagopyrum (Polygonaceae) is a small genus including less than 30 species, mostly endemic to southern China. The genus includes two cultivated species, common buckwheat F. esculentum and Tartary buckwheat F. tataricum. Fagopyrum is clearly distinguished from other genus in Polygonaceae by the central position of embryo in achene. The genus is divided into two major groups, namely the cymosum group and the urophyllum group, based on morphological characters and molecular systematics. In the last three decades the number of species in the genus has doubled by the discovery of new species by Japanese and Chinese groups. Most of them are revealed to be included in the urophyllum group based on morphological and molecular genetic analyses. Molecular systematic surveys have also detected inappropriate treatment of some non-Fagopyrum species as new species or combination in the genus.