Eriogonum ovalifolium

Eriogonum ovalifolium is a species of wild buckwheat known by the common name cushion buckwheat. It is native to western North America from California to Alberta, where it is a member of many plant communities in varied habitats.

Eriogonum ovalifolium
var. ovalifolium

Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Polygonaceae
Genus: Eriogonum
Species:
E. ovalifolium
Binomial name
Eriogonum ovalifolium

Description

There are many varieties of this species but in general it is a tough perennial herb which forms mats in gravelly soil or amongst rocks and produces erect inflorescences up to 35 centimeters in height. The pale green to gray leaves at the base of the plant are rounded and woolly and have petioles.

The clumps of flowers are yellow, light red or pink, purple, or white.

Variety nivale is found at subalpine and alpine elevations west of the Rocky Mountain crest. The leaves are densely covered with white wooly matted hair.

Varieties

There are four[1] to eleven[2] varieties of this species. They include:

References

  1. USFWS. Cushenbury Buckwheat Five-year Review. August 2009.
  2. Eriogonum ovalifolium. Flora of North America.
  3. USFWS. Steamboat Buckwheat Five-year Review. March 2009.
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