The name is based on the genus Polygonum, and was first used by Antoine Laurent de Jussieu in 1789 in his book, Genera Plantarum.

[4] The fruit of the sea grape (Coccoloba uvifera) is eaten, and in Florida, jelly is made from it and sold commercially.

[10] Polygonaceae contain some of the most prolific weeds, including species of Persicaria, Rumex and Polygonum, as well as Japanese knotweed.

[7] Brandbyge followed earlier systems of plant classification in dividing Polygonaceae into two subfamilies, Eriogonoideae and Polygonoideae.

[7] Since then, a few more genera have been erected, and some segregates of Brunnichia, Eriogonum, and Persicaria have been given generic status in major works.

Most Polygonaceae are perennial herbaceous plants with swollen nodes, but trees, shrubs and vines are also present.

The ovary consists of three united carpels that form a single locule, which produces only one ovule.

[13][14] Symmeria Afrobrunnichia Brunnichia Antigonon Neomillspaughia Coccoloba Podopterus Leptogonum Ruprechtia Triplaris Gymnopodium Gilmania Pterostegia Eriogonum Chorizanthe Persicaria Bistorta Rubrivena Aconogonon Koenigia Fagopyrum (including Parapteropyrum) Calligonum Pteropyrum Pteroxygonum Oxyria Rheum Rumex (including Emex) Knorringia Atraphaxis Polygonella Polygonum Reynoutria Fallopia Muehlenbeckia