Polish "tatarka" ‘Fagopyrum tataricum (L.) Gaertn.’ and ‘Fagopyrum esculentum Moench’ in a Slavic and European context

The article deals with the names of two species of plant which have "Tartar" associations in the Polish language. The author is talking about gryka tatarska, also known as gryka tatarka, i.e. Fagopyrum tataricum (L.). Gaertn., known for short as tatarka (KLRN), and common buckwheat, i.e. Fagopyrum esculentum Moench, syn. Fagopyrum sagittatum Gilib. The names for common buckwheat and Tartary buckwheat in Slavic and European languages indicate that both species have eastern origins. These names suggest that Greeks, Tartars and “pagans” in general can take most credit for the spread of these plants. The name tatarka, attesting to the fact that the Tartars acted as intermediaries in the spread of buckwheat, first emerged on Polish soil and from there spread to Slovakia, Eastern Moravia in the modern day Czech Republic, to Ukrainian dialects bordering Slovakia, to Hungarian dialects and even to Romanian dialects. It is fairly likely that it was also the source of German names of the type Taterkorn and Tater.