Climbing False Buckwheat, False Buckwheat

Fallopia scandens

fal-OH-pee-uh  SKAN-dens

Synonyms of Fallopia scandens (8) (Updated on 12-22-23 from Plants of the World Online): Bilderdykia scandens (L.) Greene (1904), Fagopyrum scandens (L.) Gross (1913), Helxine scandens (L.) Raf. (1837), Polygonum dumetorum var. scandens (L.) A.Gray (1867), Polygonum scandens L. (1753), Reynoutria scandens (L.) Shinners (1967), Tiniaria scandens Small (1903)

Fallopia scandens (L.) Holub is the accepted scientific name for the Climbing False Buckwheat. It was named and described as such by Josef Ludwig Holub in Folia Geobotanica & Phytotaxonomica in 1971. It was first named Polygonum scandens by Carl von Linnaeus in the first volume of the first edition of Species Plantarum in 1753.

The genus, Fallopia Adans., was named and described as such by Michel Adanson in Familles des Plantes in 1763. The genus was named in honor of Gabriello (Gabriele) Fallopia, a 16th-century Italian anatomist who discovered fallopian tubes.

As of 12-22-23 when I wrote this page, Plants of the World Online lists 12 species in the genus Fallopia. It is a member of the plant family Polygonaceae with 56 genera. Those numbers could change as updates are made on POWO.

The above distribution map is from Plants of the World Online. Areas in green are where the species is native. The map on the USDA Plant Database is similar but doesn’t include Iowa and Kansas. It also uses the name Polygonum scandens var. scandens… The map on The Biota of North America Program (BONAP) is the same as POWO.

The map on iNaturalist shows where members have made observations. Anyone can join and it is a great website to confirm and share your observations. The maps on iNaturalist are continually updated as members post new observations.

THERE ARE SEVERAL LINKS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE FOR FURTHER READING AND TO HELP WITH A POSITIVE ID.

While I was wildflower hunting on October 2, 2022, I decided to walk along the fence along the south side of the farm in the front pasture. 2022 was one of those years that several species popped up here and there that I had not seen before, several along this same fence row. One of them was Fallopia scandens, commonly known as Climbing Buckwheat. I was hoping it would return in 2024 so I could take more photos since I didn’t get many in 2022. Well, the reason was the vine was climbing on wicked-looking Poison Ivy. Unfortunately, the summer of 2024 was very hot and dry and most wildflowers fizzled out by mid-summer. I looked several times for this vine but I never could find it… 

Fallopia scandens is an annual or perennial member of the plant family Polygonaceae. It is a native species found throughout most of Missouri and the central part of the U.S. eastward and into Canada. It is easily recognized by its climbing habit, heart-shaped leaves, and particularly odd flowers. 

Climbing False Buckwheat prefers growing in part sun in fertile loamy soil in fairly damp and well-draining but other conditions are sometimes acceptable. This species can be found in a variety of habitats including open woodland, along streambanks, pond banks, low grasslands, ditches, fencerows, etc., particularly around sources of water. 

In just-right conditions, the vines of Fallopia scandens can grow to 15-30 feet in length in one season. The vines twist with age, are sometimes slightly ribbed, and turn red in more sun. Stems can be hairless (glabrous) to moderately hairy (pubescent) with downward-curved hairs, or mealy. Stems are swollen at leaf nodes which are surrounded by a small ocreae (sheath).

Alternate leaves are heart-shaped and grow to about 6” long and 2” across with parallel or slightly spreading basal lobes. Petioles  (leaf stems) on the larger lower leaves are around 1 1/2” long, but the smaller leaves near the top of the stems have shorter petioles, the smallest leaves being sessile (no petioles).

Erect to ascending spikelike racemes of flowers, 3-6 per fascicle, are produced from the leaf axils along the stems in closely grouped clusters.

Each flower consists of 5 tepals* that are white, greenish-white, or pinkish appearing as a set of 2 inner whorls and 3 outer whorls. The outer 3 tepals are strongly winged and elongating at fruiting. Each flower consists of both male and female flowers. Female flowers include a 3-sided ovary with a tripartite (3-parted) style and a capitate (knob-like) green stigma. Male flowers surrounding the female flower consists of 8 stamens with white filaments and bi-lobed white anthers. The erect flowers are open briefly and then droop as they set fruit. The blooming period is from July through November (unless they get ZAPPED by an “F”).

*Tepals are similar to petals and part of the perianth, which is a combination of the calyx and corollas in other species. Different websites use different terminology which can only add to the confusion.

Small bees, wasps, and flies are attracted to the pollen and nectar of the flowers. 

Pollinated flowers are replaced by strange-winged fruit. It’s the 3 outer winged tepals that become part of the fruit…

Inside the fruit is a single dark brown or shiny black 3-angled achene (the seed). Dried fruit can float on water or be carried away by the wind. Apparently, the seed looks and tastes like buckwheat… 

I borrowed the above three photos from the Missouri Plants website. Missouri Plants has been my number-one site for confirming and identifying wildflowers on the farm and surrounding areas. They have great photographs and descriptions of many species found in Missouri (which are found in other states as well). Photos are available for non-commercial educational uses. Click HERE to go to their page for Fallopia scandens.

Hopefully, 2024 will be a better year for wildflower hunting and I can take more and better photos to replace those I have borrowed.

I live on a small farm in Windsor, Missouri where I enjoy gardening, collecting plants, and identifying wildflowers. The farm is in Pettis County but Henry County is across the street, and Benton and Johnson aren’t far away. I have grown over 500 different plants and identified over 250 species of wildflowers (most have pages listed on the right side of the page). I am not an expert, botanist, or horticulturalist. I just like growing, photographing, and writing about my experience. I rely on several websites for ID and a few horticulturalists I contact if I cannot figure them out. Wildflowers can be variable from location to location, so that can be a bit confusing. If you see I have made an error, please let me know so I can correct what I have written.

I hope you found this page useful and be sure to check the links below for more information. They were written by experts and provide much more information. Some sites may not be up-to-date but they are always a work in progress. If you can, I would appreciate it if you would click on the “Like” below and leave a comment. It helps us bloggers stay motivated. You can also send an email to me at thebelmontrooster@yahoo.com. I would enjoy hearing from you especially if you notice something is a bit whacky.

FOR FURTHER READING:
PLANTS OF THE WORLD ONLINE (GENUS/SPECIES)
INTERNATIONAL PLANT NAMES INDEX (GENUS/SPECIES)
TROPICOS (GENUS/SPECIES)
FLORA OF NORTH AMERICA (GENUS/SPECIES)
WORLD FLORA ONLINE (GENUS/SPECIES)
WIKIPEDIA (GENUS/SPECIES)
USDA PLANTS DATABASE
MISSOURI PLANTS
MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION
iNATURALIST
WILDFLOWER SEARCH
ILLINOIS WILDFLOWERS
MINNESOTA WILDFLOWERS
KANSAS WILDFLOWERS AND GRASSES
GO BOTANY
LADY BIRD JOHNSON WILDFLOWER CENTER
FLORA FINDER
MARYLAND BIODIVERSITY PROJECT
CLIMBERS-UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

NOTE: The data (figures, maps, accepted names, etc.) may not match on these websites. It depends on when and how they make updates and when their sources make updates. Some websites have hundreds and thousands of species to keep up with. Accepted scientific names change periodically and it can be hard to keep with as well. Some of the links may use a name that is a synonym on other sites. In my opinion, Plants of the World Online by Kew is one of the most reliable and up-to-date plant databases and they make updates regularly. I make updates “at least” once a year and when I write new pages or add new photos but I do get behind. We are all a work in progress. 🙂