Flora of North America species comparison

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Eriogonum corymbosum

Eriogonum loganum

corymbed wild buckwheat, crispleaf buckwheat, crispleaf wild buckwheat, white wild buckwheat

Cache Valley buckwheat, Cache Valley wild buckwheat
Habit Shrubs or subshrubs, spreading, rounded, occasionally erect, rarely somewhat matted, not scapose, (0.5–)1.5–8(–15) × (2–)3–15(–23) dm, grayish- to reddish-brown-tomentose to floccose or glabrous, grayish or greenish. Herbs, cespitose or spreading, scapose, (0.5–)1.5–3 × (0.5–)2–4(–5) dm, tomentose, reddish, greenish, or grayish.
Stems

spreading or erect, often with persistent leaf bases, up to 3/4 or more height of plant;

caudex stems absent or somewhat matted;

aerial flowering stems erect or nearly so, slender or occasionally stout, solid, not fistulose, (0.1–)1–2 dm, tomentose to floccose, occasionally glabrous.

spreading, occasionally with persistent leaf bases, up to 1/4 height of plant;

caudex stems matted;

aerial flowering stems slightly spreading to erect, slender, solid, not fistulose, (0.06–)1–2.5 dm, tomentose.
Leaves

cauline, 1 per node;

petiole 0.1–1.5 cm, tomentose to floccose;

blade lanceolate to oblanceolate or elliptic to nearly orbiculate, rarely cordate, (0.5–)1–3(–4.5) × (0.3–)0.5–3(–3.5) cm, densely white-, tannish- or brownish-tomentose on both surfaces or less so to nearly glabrous and green adaxially, margins occasionally crenulate.

sheathing up stem 1–4 cm, 1 per node;

petiole (0.5–)1–2.5(–3) cm, lanate;

blade oblanceolate to elliptic, (0.5–)1–5(–7) × (0.2–)0.3–1 cm, densely lanate abaxially, less so to tomentose adaxially, margins plane.
Inflorescences

cymose, rarely capitate or umbellate, diffuse to rather open, (1–)3–20 × 2–25(–30) cm;

branches dichotomous, tomentose, floccose, or rarely glabrous;

bracts 3, scalelike, usually triangular, and 1–3(–6) mm, or leaflike, 10–25 mm, and similar to leaf blades.

capitate, 1 cm;

branches absent;

bracts 3, scalelike, triangular, 1.5–3 mm.
Peduncles

absent.

absent.
Involucres

1 per node, turbinate, (1–)1.5–3.5 × 1–2(–2.5) mm;

teeth 5, erect, 0.3–1 mm.

3–5 per cluster, turbinate, (2–)3.5–4.5 × (1.5–)2.5–3 mm, tomentose;

teeth 5, erect, 0.5–1 mm.
Flowers

(1.5–)2–3.5 mm;

perianth white to cream, pink, or pale yellow to yellow, glabrous or rarely sparsely pilose;

tepals connate proximal 1/4–1/3, essentially monomorphic, oblanceolate to spatulate;

stamens included to slightly exserted, 1–4(–5) mm;

filaments typically pilose proximally.

(2–)2.5–3.5(–4) mm;

perianth ochroleucous or yellow, glabrous;

tepals connate proximal 1/4, monomorphic, oblong;

stamens exserted, (2.5–)3–5 mm;

filaments glabrous or sparsely pilose proximally.
Achenes

brown, 2–2.5(–3) mm, glabrous except for occasional papillate beak.

brown, (2.5–)3–3.5 mm, glabrous.

Eriogonum corymbosum

Eriogonum loganum
Phenology Flowering May–Aug.
Habitat Sandy to gravelly slopes, sagebrush communities, juniper woodlands, gravelly or limestone slopes, high-elevation sagebrush communities, subalpine conifer woodlands
Elevation 1400-3100 m (4600-10200 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CO; NM; NV; TX; UT; WY
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
UT
Discussion

Varieties 8 (8 in the flora).

Eriogonum corymbosum is a difficult complex of overlapping expressions, some of which are maintained here as taxonomically significant. Although perianth color is used to group the varieties, this feature is not consistent even in single populations. Therefore, population trends in perianth color must be noted in the field. Most of the varieties are then distinguished on the basis of leaf characters, and again, considerable variation can be seen in some populations. Still, the combination of flower color, leaf features, and geographic distribution should prove useful in distinguishing the varieties.

S. L. Welsh et al. (2003) alluded to hybrid combinations involving Eriogonum corymbosum and other species. Aside from the instances involving E. brevicaule, discussed below, none has been confirmed. Most of the putative hybrids are misidentified specimens of E. lonchophyllum or collections of var. corymbosum in which the leaf-margins are not decidedly crisped, a feature usually seen only in fully mature plants.

Eriogonum corymbosum was widely used by Native Americans. P. A. Vestal (1940) reported that the Hopi pressed boiled stalks into cakes that, when dried, were eaten with salt. J. W. Fewkes (1896) indicated that boiled leaves were mixed with cornmeal and water, and then baked into a kind of bread. S. A. Weber and P. D. Seaman (1985) indicated that A. F. Whiting was aware of a decoction of leaves (probably from var. glutinosum) being used for headaches. Variety glutinosum also was used primarily to treat tuberculosis, or at least as a cough medicine (D. E. Moerman 1986).

Some of the expressions of Eriogonum corymbosum are attracting the interest of gardeners, a few are coming into cultivation, and several selections are now being developed. The plants are slow growing but can be transplanted with some degree of success. Members of the varieties are food plants for Ellis’s dotted-blue butterfly (Euphilotes ellisi).

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

Of conservation concern.

Eriogonum loganum is known from a few widely scattered, disjunct populations in Cache and Morgan counties. The type locality is on the southern edge of the Utah State University campus, but construction of three parking lots has resulted in its near total destruction. Fragmentary populations remain at the mouth of Logan Canyon, but more robust populations are known from Cart Hollow (south of Logan) and Smithfield Canyon (north of Logan). There is also a series of high-elevation populations found along the backbone of the Bear River Range, with both the Cart Hollow and Smithfield Canyon populations more similar to the material found around Tony Grove Lake than to that on the bench in Logan. The species is clearly related to E. brevicaule, especially to the ochroleucous forms of var. laxifolium found in Rich County, Utah.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Key
1. Perianths usually pale yellow to yellow, occasionally white; s Utah, n Arizona, se Nevada
→ 2
1. Perianths white to cream or pink; sw Wyoming s through e Utah and w Colorado to nw New Mexico and Arizona
→ 4
2. Inflorescence branches glabrous or nearly so; sw Utah
var. aureum
2. Inflorescence branches tomentose to floccose
→ 3
3. Leaf blades greenish-floccose adaxially; Colorado Plateau, n Arizona, s Utah
var. glutinosum
3. Leaf blades silvery-floccose adaxially; Mojave Desert, se Nevada, sc Utah
var. nilesii
4. Leaf blades elliptic-oblong to nearly orbiculate, 1-3(-3.5) × 1-2.5(-3.5) cm
→ 5
4. Leaf blades lanceolate to oblanceolate or elliptic, (0.5-)1-3(-4.5) × (0.3-)0.5-1.5 cm
→ 6
5. Leaf blades elliptic-oblong to oblong or ovate, rarely cordate, densely white- to tan-lanate or less so to brownish-floccose adaxially; plants brownish-white- tomentose; flowers 2-2.5(-3) mm
var. velutinum
5. Leaf blades usually broadly ovate to nearly orbiculate, densely grayish-tomentose abaxially, sometimes tomentose to floccose on both surfaces, or more often subglabrous or glabrous and green adaxially; plants greenish-tomentose; flowers 2.5-3 mm
var. orbiculatum
6. Plants sprawling subshrubs, 0.5-1.5 dm, occasionally shrubs, 2-4.5 dm; leaf blades 0.5-2 × 0.3-0.6(-0.8) cm; subalpine in bristlecone pine communities
var. heilii
6. Plants erect subshrubs or shrubs, 3-10 dm; leaf blades 1-3(-4.5) × (0.3-)0.5-1.5 cm; desert scrub to montane forest communities
→ 7
7. Leaves cauline 2 or more length of flowering stems; n Arizona, w Colorado, e and s Utah, sw Wyoming
var. corymbosum
7. Leaves cauline 4 or less length of flowering stems; c and e Utah
var. revealianum
Source FNA vol. 5, p. 255. FNA vol. 5, p. 268.
Parent taxa Polygonaceae > subfam. Eriogonoideae > Eriogonum > subg. Eucycla Polygonaceae > subfam. Eriogonoideae > Eriogonum > subg. Eucycla
Sibling taxa
E. abertianum, E. acaule, E. alatum, E. aliquantum, E. allenii, E. alpinum, E. ammophilum, E. ampullaceum, E. androsaceum, E. anemophilum, E. angulosum, 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. 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
E. abertianum, E. acaule, E. alatum, E. aliquantum, E. allenii, E. alpinum, E. ammophilum, E. ampullaceum, E. androsaceum, E. anemophilum, E. angulosum, 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. 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
E. corymbosum var. aureum, E. corymbosum var. corymbosum, E. corymbosum var. glutinosum, E. corymbosum var. heilii, E. corymbosum var. nilesii, E. corymbosum var. orbiculatum, E. corymbosum var. revealianum, E. corymbosum var. velutinum
Synonyms E. effusum subsp. corymbosum E. brevicaule var. loganum, E. chrysocephalum subsp. loganum
Name authority Bentham: in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 14: 17. (1856) A. Nelson: Bot. Gaz. 54: 149. (1912)
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).



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