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

spoon-leaf wild buckwheat, spoonleaf 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, spreading, not scapose, 1.5–4 × 1–3 dm, tomentose or, rarely, glabrous, 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, without persistent leaf bases, up to 1/4 height of plant;

caudex stems absent;

aerial flowering stems erect, slender, solid, not fistulose, 1–2 dm, tomentose or rarely glabrous.

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 1–8 cm, 1 per node;

petiole 0.5–1.5 cm, tomentose;

blade lanceolate to narrowly elliptic or narrowly spatulate, 1–4(–6) × 0.3–1 cm, tomentose on both surfaces, margins plane, rarely crenulate or revolute.

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.

cymose, 3–10 × 3–10 cm;

branches dichotomous, tomentose or rarely glabrous;

bracts 3, narrowly triangular, scalelike, 1–3 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.

(1–)3–6 per cluster, turbinate-campanulate, 2–3(–3.5) × 2–2.5(–3) mm, tomentose, rarely glabrous;

teeth 5, erect, 0.5–0.8 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.

2.5–3 mm;

perianth ochroleucous or pale yellow, glabrous;

tepals connate proximal 1/4, monomorphic, oblong;

stamens exserted, 2.5–4 mm;

filaments pilose proximally.

Achenes

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

brown, 3–3.5 mm, glabrous.

Eriogonum corymbosum

Eriogonum spathulatum

Phenology Flowering Jul–Oct.
Habitat Clay flats, limestone slopes, or gypsum outcrops, saltbush, sagebrush, and mountain mahogany communities, pinyon-juniper and conifer woodlands
Elevation 1400-2200(-2600) m (4600-7200(-8500) ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CO; NM; NV; TX; UT; WY
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
UT
[BONAP county map]
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.)

Eriogonum spathulatum is fairly common in west-central Utah. The typical expression, tomentose plants with ochroleucous flowers, occurs mainly in Iron, southern Juab, Millard, Piute, Sanpete, and Sevier counties. Plants with pale yellow to yellow perianths are seen infrequently in a few populations; these are always intermixed with plants bearing non-yellow perianths. Mixed populations of plants with either tomentose or glabrous flowering stems and inflorescence branches occur on gravelly limestone ridges in Beaver County; those with glabrous flowering stems and inflorescence branches have been separated recently as var. kayeae. In aspect, these approach Eriogonum artificis, a plant of sandy volcanic soils.

(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. 271.
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. 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. 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. nudicaule subsp. ochroflorum, E. spathulatum var. kayeae
Name authority Bentham: in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 14: 17. (1856) A. Gray: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 10: 76. (1874)
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