Flora of North America species comparison

The green links below add additional plants to the comparison table. Blue links lead to other Web sites.
enable glossary links

Eriogonum angulosum

Polygonaceae subfam. eriogonoideae

angle stem buckwheat, angle-stem wild buckwheat

wild buckwheat
Habit Herbs, erect to spreading, annual, 1–5(–10) dm, tomen-tose to floccose or glabrous, usually grayish. Shrubs, subshrubs, or herbs, sometimes nearly arborescent (Eriogonum), perennial, biennial, or annual, homophyllous, polycarpic (rarely monocarpic in Eriogonum); taproot solid or, rarely, chambered (Eriogonum), slender to stout.
Stems

caudex absent;

aerial flowering stems erect, striated, angled, solid, not fistulose, 0.5–1 dm, tomentose to floccose.

prostrate or decumbent to spreading or erect, sometimes scapose, rarely absent (Eriogonum), without recurved spines, glabrous or pubescent, sometimes glandular;

nodes not swollen;

tendrils absent;

caudex stems tightly compact to spreading and at or just below the soil surface or spreading to erect and above the soil surface, woody;

aerial flowering stems decumbent to spreading or erect, arising at nodes of caudex branches, at distal nodes of aerial branches, or directly from the root, slender to stout and solid or slightly to distinctly fistulose, rarely disarticulating in ringlike segments (Eriogonum).
Leaves

basal and cauline;

basal: petiole 0.5–3 cm, mostly floccose, blade oblanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, 1–4(–4.5) × (0.2–)0.5–1(–1.3) cm, tomentose abaxially, floccose or glabrate and grayish or greenish adaxially, margins crenulate;

cauline sessile, blade lanceolate to oblong, 0.5–2 × 0.3–0.8 cm, similar to basal blade.

deciduous (persistent in some shrubby and matted Eriogonum species), basal or basal and cauline, rarely only cauline, rosulate, alternate, or infrequently opposite (Goodmania) or in whorls of 3 (Gilmania);

stipules absent (possibly vestigial in some perennial species of Chorizanthe);

petiole present, sometimes indistinct, not articulate or with extrafloral nectaries;

blade simple, rarely lobed (Pterostegia), rarely awn-tipped (Goodmania).
Inflorescences

cymose, open, 5–80 × 10–60 cm;

branches striated, angled, sparsely tomentose to glabrate;

bracts 3, scalelike, 1–3 × 1–3 mm.

terminal or terminal and axillary, cymose and dichotomously or trichotomously branched, or racemose, simple or compound umbellate, or capitate;

bracts usually connate proximally, leaflike or scalelike, entire apically, sometimes awn-tipped, glabrous or pubescent.
Peduncles

erect, straight, slender, 1–2 cm, sparsely tomentose to glabrous.

absent or erect to deflexed relative to inflorescence branch, sometimes reflexed, straight or curved.
Involucres

turbinate-campanulate to campanulate, 1.5–2.5(–3) × 1.5–2.5(–3), sparsely puberulent;

teeth 5, erect, 0.3–0.6 mm.

Flowers

1.5–1.8 mm;

perianth white to rose, without a conspicuous rose-purple spot on each outer tepal, minutely glandular-puberulent;

tepals dimorphic, those of outer whorl elliptic to obovate, sometimes inflated proximally, those of inner whorl narrowly spatulate;

stamens exserted, 2–3 mm;

filaments pilose proximally.

(1–)2–30(–100) per involucral structure, occasionally with stipelike base distal to articulations (Eriogonum);

perianth accrescent in fruit, mostly white to red, yellow, light green, greenish white, maroon, or purple, urceolate to campanulate, occasionally glandular or pustulose abaxially, nearly always minutely glandular along midvein adaxially, glabrous or pubescent;

tepals (5–)6, in 2 whorls of 3, connate proximally, typically not forming tube (except Chorizanthe, Lastarriaea, Mucronea, Pterostegia), petaloid or, rarely, coriaceous (Lastarriaea), monomorphic or dimorphic, entire, emarginate, or lobed to laciniate apically, rarely awn-tipped (Lastarriaea) or apiculate (Eriogonum);

nectary a disk at base of ovary;

stamens 3, 6, or 9 (variously 3–9 in Chorizanthe, Mucronea);

staminodes absent;

filaments usually distinct, occasionally forming staminal tube (Chorizanthe);

pistils 3-carpellate, homostylous;

ovary 1-locular;

ovule 1, orthotropous, placentation basal;

styles 3, distinct;

stigmas capitate.
Achenes

light brown to brown, 3-gonous, 1–1.5 mm, glabrous.

brown to black or maroon, homocarpic, winged or unwinged, 3-gonous, less often lenticular or globose-lenticular to globose.
Seeds

embryo straight or curved.
Involucral

structures tubular (involucre) or consisting of a series of individual bractlike lobes (involucral bracts) arranged in whorls or spirals, rarely absent (Gilmania), awns present or absent;

involucre cylindric, prismatic, turbinate, campanulate, urceolate, or funnelform with 3–8(–36) usually erect teeth or 4–12 spreading to reflexed lobes (teeth and lobes are distal portions of proximally connate involucral bracts);

involucral bracts in 1–3 whorls, rarely in spirals (Johanneshowellia), free or connate only at base, linear to oblanceolate or ovate.

Eriogonum angulosum

Polygonaceae subfam. eriogonoideae
Phenology Flowering year-round.
Habitat Clayey flats and slopes, mixed grassland, saltbush, and chaparral communities, oak and conifer woodlands
Elevation 0-800 m (0-2600 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CA
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Mainly temperate regions of w North America (Alaska to Mexico); uncommon in South America (Argentina and Chile) and e North America (WVa s to c Fla, e to Mo, Okla, and Tex)
Discussion

The name Eriogonum angulosum has been applied to all of the members of its species complex except E. gossypinum. Since the 1950s, the name consistently has been applied to plants with long, exserted stamens and strongly angled stems of the Inner Coast Ranges (Alameda and Contra Costa counties south), the western foothills of the southern Sierra Nevada (Tulare County south), and the Central Valley (San Joaquin County south). The southern edge of the range is the northern foothills of the Transverse Ranges (Ventura and Los Angeles counties). The species can be common and occasionally abundant but rarely is weedy. A mixed collection (with E. gracillimum) from Barstow, San Bernardino County (K. Brandegee s.n., May 1913, UC), and two sheets of the species from San Diego gathered by Susan Stokes apparently in 1895 (B, SD) are discounted as to location.

In late fruit, the bractlets at the base of the pedicel inside the involucres of Eriogonum angulosum often elongate and broaden into oblanceolate segments that fill the involucre. As a result, the involucre appears to have several rows of teeth. This feature may be seen also in E. viridescens, but typically the involucres there appear to have only two or three rows of teeth. This feature is seen rarely in E. maculatum.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Genera 20, species ca. 325 (19 genera, 281 species in the flora).

Detailed habitat, elevation, and distribution data for the eriogonoid genera are maintained by the author and available on the Web at: “Eriogonoideae (Polygonaceae) of North America north of Mexico” (http://www.life.umd.edu/emeritus/reveal/pbio/eriog/key.html).

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Key
1. Plants annual with involucre forming distinct tube, this cylindric or prismatic and awn-tipped typically with at least some awns uncinate or curved, rarely turbinate or urceolate to campanulate and then with 5 divergent, straight awns, or reduced to 1-4, often awn-tipped involucral bracts; flowers mostly 1-2(-6) per involucre
→ 2
1. Plants perennial or biennial, or, if annual, with involucre forming distinct tube, this turbinate to campanulate or hemispheric and awnless or tipped with erect, straight awns or reduced to awnless involucral bracts, absent entirely in Gilmania; flowers mostly (2-)6-200 per involucre (Eriogoneae, Eriogonineae)
→ 10
2. Involucres reduced to 1 highly modified, 2-winged bract; leaf blades entire or variously lobed; stems sprawling and spreading (Pterostegieae)
Pterostegia
2. Involucres tubular or reduced to 3(-4) bracts; leaf blades entire; stems erect to prostrate
→ 3
3. Involucres reduced to 3(-4) bracts; tepals mucronate or awn-tipped; California
→ 4
3. Involucres tubular; tepals not mucronate or awn-tipped (Chorizanthineae); widespread
→ 5
4. Perianths yellowish, densely tomentose abaxially; tepals mucronate apically; stamens 6 or 9; inflorescence branches tomentose (Hollisteriineae)
Hollisteria
4. Perianths light green to greenish white, thinly pubescent abaxially; tepals acute or awn-tipped apically; stamens 3; inflorescence branches thinly pubescent (Chorizanthineae)
Lastarriaea
5. Inflorescence bracts opposite, mostly 2, sometimes numerous and whorled; flowers 1(-2) per involucre; w North America
Chorizanthe
5. Inflorescence bracts alternate and positioned on one side of branch or perfoliate around branch, 3-lobed or parted; flowers (1-)2-6 per involucre; widespread
→ 6
6. Involucres 5-toothed, each terminated by divergent awn; flowers 4(-6) per involucre; perianth pubescent abaxially; wc California
Aristocapsa
6. Involucres 2-4(6)-lobed or -toothed, or, if 5-awned apically, involucre with additional basal awns; flowers (1-)2-3 per involucre, perianth glabrous by densely papillate or pubescent abaxially; California
→ 7
7. Involucres not awned basally; California
→ 8
7. Involucres awned basally; sw North America
→ 9
8. Perianths pubescent abaxially; flowers bisexual
Mucronea
8. Perianths glabrous, densely papillate abaxially; flowers bisexual and unisexual, with proximal 1 pistillate and distal 1 bisexual
Systenotheca
9. Basal awns 3, on saccate lobes; terminal awns 5, straight, involucres 3-angled; flowers 2 per involucre; sw North America
Centrostegia
9. Basal awns 6, on nonsaccate basal lobes; terminal awns 6, uncinate; involucres 6-angled; flowers 3 per involucre; sw California
Dodecahema
10. Plants perennial, if annual or biennial involucre tubular and awnless
→ 11
10. Plants annual; involucres tubular and awn-tipped or series of free or basally connate, awnless bracts, rarely absent (Gilmania)
→ 12
11. Involucres tubular, the lobes rarely connate proximally; plants annual, biennial, or perennial; widespread
Eriogonum
11. Involucres reduced to series of 2-5 obscure, awnless bracts; plants perennial shrubs; ec California
Dedeckera
12. Involucres not awned or absent
→ 13
12. Involucres awn-tipped
→ 16
13. Involucral bracts in 2 whorls of 3; sw Wyoming to ne Arizona and nw New Mexico
Stenogonum
13. Involucral bracts absent or in 1 whorl or tight spiral; California, Nevada, sw Utah
→ 14
14. Stamens 3; s California, sw Arizona
Nemacaulis
14. Stamens 9; se California, s Nevada, sw Utah
→ 15
15. Perianths thinly pubescent abaxially; involucral bracts absent; Death Valley, California
Gilmania
15. Perianths glabrous, smooth or minutely pustulose; involucral bracts (3-)4(-7); se California, s Nevada, sw Utah
Johanneshowellia
16. Involucres not tubular; se California, ec Nevada
Goodmania
16. Involucres tubular; widespread. [17. Shifted to left margin.—Ed.]
→ 17
17. Involucral awns 5(-6); tepals 3-lobed or laciniate apically; achenes 3-gonous; s California
Sidotheca
17. Involucral awns either (3-)4 or 7-36; tepals mostly entire, rarely irregularly divided or retuse apically; achenes globose-lenticular; widespread
→ 18
18. Involucral awns (3-)4; leaf blades linear to spatulate, margins entire; se Washington e to sw Wyoming and s to Mexico
Oxytheca
18. Involucral awns 7 or more, rarely 4; leaf blades broadly obovate or spatulate to oblong or oblanceolate, margins ciliate-denticulate; s California
Acanthoscyphus
Source FNA vol. 5, p. 411. FNA vol. 5, p. 218. Author: James L. Reveal.
Parent taxa Polygonaceae > subfam. Eriogonoideae > Eriogonum > subg. Ganysma Polygonaceae
Sibling taxa
E. abertianum, E. acaule, E. alatum, E. aliquantum, E. allenii, E. alpinum, E. ammophilum, E. ampullaceum, E. androsaceum, E. anemophilum, E. annuum, E. apiculatum, E. apricum, E. arborescens, E. arcuatum, E. aretioides, E. argillosum, E. argophyllum, E. arizonicum, E. artificis, E. atrorubens, E. baileyi, E. batemanii, E. bicolor, E. bifurcatum, E. brachyanthum, E. brachypodum, E. brandegeei, E. breedlovei, E. brevicaule, E. butterworthianum, E. caespitosum, E. capillare, E. cernuum, E. chrysops, E. cinereum, E. cithariforme, E. clavatum, E. clavellatum, E. codium, E. collinum, E. coloradense, E. compositum, E. concinnum, E. congdonii, E. contiguum, E. contortum, E. correllii, E. corymbosum, E. covilleanum, E. crocatum, E. cronquistii, E. crosbyae, E. cusickii, E. darrovii, E. dasyanthemum, E. davidsonii, E. deflexum, E. deserticola, E. desertorum, E. diatomaceum, E. diclinum, E. divaricatum, E. douglasii, E. eastwoodianum, E. effusum, E. elatum, E. elegans, E. elongatum, E. ephedroides, E. eremicola, E. eremicum, E. ericifolium, E. esmeraldense, E. evanidum, E. exaltatum, E. exilifolium, E. fasciculatum, E. flavum, E. fusiforme, E. giganteum, E. gilmanii, E. glandulosum, E. gordonii, E. gossypinum, E. gracile, E. gracilipes, E. gracillimum, E. grande, E. greggii, E. gypsophilum, E. havardii, E. heermannii, E. helichrysoides, E. hemipterum, E. heracleoides, E. hieracifolium, E. hirtellum, E. hirtiflorum, E. hoffmannii, E. holmgrenii, E. hookeri, E. howellianum, E. hylophilum, E. incanum, E. inerme, E. inflatum, E. intrafractum, E. jamesii, E. jonesii, E. kelloggii, E. kennedyi, E. kingii, E. lachnogynum, E. lancifolium, E. latens, E. latifolium, E. lemmonii, E. leptocladon, E. leptophyllum, E. libertini, E. lobbii, E. loganum, E. lonchophyllum, E. longifolium, E. luteolum, E. maculatum, E. mancum, E. marifolium, E. mensicola, E. microthecum, E. mitophyllum, E. mohavense, E. molestum, E. mortonianum, E. multiflorum, E. natum, E. nealleyi, E. nervulosum, E. nidularium, E. niveum, E. nortonii, E. novonudum, E. nudum, E. nummulare, E. nutans, E. ochrocephalum, E. ordii, E. ostlundii, E. ovalifolium, E. palmerianum, E. panamintense, E. panguicense, E. parishii, E. parvifolium, E. pauciflorum, E. pelinophilum, E. pendulum, E. pharnaceoides, E. plumatella, E. polycladon, E. polypodum, E. prattenianum, E. prociduum, E. pulchrum, E. pusillum, E. pyrolifolium, E. racemosum, E. reniforme, E. ripleyi, E. rixfordii, E. robustum, E. rosense, E. roseum, E. rotundifolium, E. rubricaule, E. rupinum, E. salicornioides, E. saxatile, E. scabrellum, E. scopulorum, E. shockleyi, E. siskiyouense, E. smithii, E. soliceps, E. soredium, E. spathulatum, E. spectabile, E. spergulinum, E. sphaerocephalum, E. strictum, E. subreniforme, E. suffruticosum, E. temblorense, E. tenellum, E. ternatum, E. terrenatum, E. thomasii, E. thompsoniae, E. thornei, E. thurberi, E. thymoides, E. tiehmii, E. tomentosum, E. trichopes, E. tripodum, E. truncatum, E. tumulosum, E. twisselmannii, E. umbellatum, E. ursinum, E. vestitum, E. villiflorum, E. vimineum, E. viridescens, E. viridulum, E. viscidulum, E. visheri, E. watsonii, E. wetherillii, E. wootonii, E. wrightii, E. zionis
Subordinate taxa
Acanthoscyphus, Aristocapsa, Centrostegia, Chorizanthe, Dedeckera, Dodecahema, Eriogonum, Gilmania, Goodmania, Hollisteria, Johanneshowellia, Lastarriaea, Mucronea, Nemacaulis, Oxytheca, Pterostegia, Sidotheca, Stenogonum, Systenotheca
Name authority Bentham: Trans. Linn. Soc. London 17: 406, plate 18, fig. 1. (1836) Arnott: in M. Napier, Encycl. Brit. ed. 7, 5: 126. (1832)
Web links 
Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from the online version of the Flora of North America, who have made most of their content available via a Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0).



Type/paste one or more Latin names into the boxes above; matching taxa will show up below the box as you type. You can use the up/down arrow keys to move through the list.

(If the plant you're looking for doesn't show up in the auto-complete list, that means it either isn't described in Flora of North America yet, or it's listed under a synonym. And please note that Flora of North America is still missing several plant families, including Fabaceae, Apiaceae, Boraginaceae, and Polemoniaceae.)

Choose a data source: Flora of North America, OregonFlora

The species comparison tool is brought to you by:
Northwest Wildflowers