It was called wheat because the grain of buckwheat was used in the same way as wheat. Producers include the former Soviet Union, China, Brazil, Poland, France, Japan, United States, South Africa and Australia. Manitoba is the major producer of buckwheat in Canada with 70 per cent of the acreage on average, followed by Quebec at 16 per cent and Ontario at 14 per cent. Description Buckwheat is an annual, characterised by large heart-shaped leaves. The tall, erect plant can grow from 2 to 5 ft.
Stems are hollow and the plant is very prone to lodging.
Stems vary in colour from green to red and brown at maturity. Buckwheat has a shallow tap root system, with numerous laterals extending to 3 to 4 ft. Flowers can be white or white tinged with pink. Seeds are wide at the base and triangular to almost round in cross section. Seed colour may be brown, grey-brown or black while size varies according to variety.