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

Coville wild buckwheat, Coville's buckwheat, Coville's wild buckwheat

grand buckwheat, Grand Valley wild buckwheat

Habit Herbs, erect, 1–4 dm, glabrous, green to reddish. Herbs, spreading, not scapose, 0.5–0.8(–1) × 0.8–3.5 dm, thinly floccose or glabrous, greenish.
Stems

aerial flowering stems erect, 0.3–1 dm, glabrous.

spreading, occasionally with persistent leaf bases, up to 1/3 height of plant;

caudex stems matted;

aerial flowering stems slightly spreading to erect, slender, solid, not fistulose, 0.2–0.6 dm, thinly floccose or glabrous, tomentose among leaves.

Leaves

basal;

petiole 1–4(–5) cm, tomentose;

blade suborbiculate to reniform, (0.3–)0.5–1.5 × 0.5–1.5(–1.8) cm, densely white-tomentose abaxially, glabrous and bright green adaxially.

sheathing up stem 1–4 cm, 1 per node;

petiole 0.1–0.2 cm, glabrous or sparsely floccose;

blade linear to narrowly lanceolate, (0.5–)1–2(–2.5) × 0.15–0.2(–0.25) cm, densely white-tomentose abaxially, floccose and greenish adaxially, margins revolute.

Inflorescences

cymose, infrequently distally uniparous due to suppression of secondary branches, open, 5–35 × 5–30 cm;

branches glabrous;

bracts 1–2 × 0.5–1 mm.

cymose, 1–3 × 0.8–2 cm;

branches dichotomous, thinly floccose or glabrous;

bracts 3, scalelike, triangular, (0.5–)1–2 mm.

Peduncles

absent.

erect, slender, 0.2–1 cm, floccose or glabrous.

Involucres

terminal at tips of slender branchlets proximally, not appressed to branches, turbinate, 2–2.5 × 1–1.5 mm, glabrous;

teeth 5, erect, 0.4–0.8 mm.

1 per node, turbinate to turbinate-campanulate, 1.5–2(–2.5) × 1–2 mm, glabrous;

teeth 5, erect, 0.3–0.5 mm.

Flowers

2–2.5(–3) mm;

perianth pink at early anthesis, becoming white to rose or yellow, minutely puberulent;

tepals monomorphic, narrowly elliptic;

stamens included, 1.7–2 mm;

filaments glabrous.

1.5–2.5 mm;

perianth yellow, glabrous;

tepals connate proximal 1/2, monomorphic to slightly dimorphic, those of outer whorl slightly broader than those of inner whorl, oblong to obovate;

stamens exserted, 1.5–2 mm;

filaments pilose proximally.

Achenes

light brown, 3-gonous, 1.8–2 mm.

brown, 2–2.5 mm, glabrous.

2n

= 34.

Eriogonum covilleanum

Eriogonum contortum

Phenology Flowering Apr–Aug. Flowering May–Aug.
Habitat Shale or serpentine outcrops and slopes, chaparral communities, oak and pine woodlands Heavy shale or clay flats and slopes, saltbush communities
Elevation 200-1400 m (700-4600 ft) 1300-1700 m (4300-5600 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CA
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CO; UT
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Eriogonum covilleanum is encountered infrequently in the Inner Coast Ranges of central and southwestern California (Fresno, Kern, Merced, Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Stanislaus, and Ventura counties). On occasion it can be locally common but is never abundant or weedy. It is often found growing with other annual wild buckwheats, and care must be taken to sort the species.

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

Eriogonum contortum is localized on Mancos Shale in Grand Valley of eastern Grand County, Utah, and western Mesa County, Colorado. Disjunct populations occur just outside Grand Valley in Garfield County, Colorado, and in Emery County, Utah. In Colorado, the Bureau of Land Management considers it a “sensitive” species. The Badger Wash Natural Area has been established to protect this species along with Astragalus musiniensis M. E. Jones (Ferron milkvetch) and Cryptantha elata Payson (tall cryptanth). Grand Valley wild buckwheat occasionally is seen in rock gardens. It is related to E. brevicaule var. brevicaule but shares many characters in common with E. pelinophilum, most notably a flower that in fruit has its proximal half decidedly rounded due to its close adherence to the globose base of the achene.

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

Source FNA vol. 5, p. 419. FNA vol. 5, p. 270.
Parent taxa Polygonaceae > subfam. Eriogonoideae > Eriogonum > subg. Oregonium 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. corymbosum, 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. 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
Synonyms E. vimineum var. covilleanum E. effusum subsp. contortum
Name authority Eastwood: Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., ser. 4, 20: 138. (1931) Small ex Rydberg: Fl. Colorado, 104, 107. (1906)
Web links