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

Kennedy's buckwheat, Kennedy's wild buckwheat

Fredonia buckwheat, Fredonia wild buckwheat

Habit Herbs, scapose, matted, 0.4–1.5 × 1–4 dm, glabrous or sparsely floccose to tomentose, grayish or reddish. Shrubs, erect to spreading, not scapose, (3–)4–10 × 5–20 dm, essentially glabrous and bright green.
Stems

matted, occasionally with persistent leaf bases, up to 1/5 height of plant;

caudex stems matted;

aerial flowering stems scapelike,erect or nearly so, slender, solid, not fistulose, (0.5–)1.5–4.5(–5) dm, glabrous or sparsely floccose to tomentose.

spreading, without persistent leaf bases, up to 1/3 height of plant;

caudex stems absent;

aerial flowering stems erect to spreading, slender, solid, not fistulose, 0.2–2 dm, glabrous.

Leaves

basal, fasciculate in terminal tufts, sometimes 1 per node and sheathing up stem 1–2 cm;

petiole 0.05–1 cm, tomentose;

blade oblanceolate, elliptic, or oblong, 0.2–1(–1.2) × 0.05–0.4 cm, grayish-, brownish-, white-, or reddish-white-tomentose, usually on both surfaces, margins plane or revolute.

cauline on proximal 2/3 of stem, 1 per node;

petiole (0.2–)0.3–0.8(–1) cm, floccose or glabrous;

blade elliptic, 1.5–4(–4.5) × (0.3–)0.6–1(–1.3) cm, glabrous and green on both surfaces, margins plane.

Inflorescences

capitate, 0.4–1 cm;

branches absent;

bracts 4–7, scalelike, triangular, 0.5–2.5(–3) mm.

cymose, open, 15–25 × 13–30 cm;

branches often with involucres racemosely arranged at tips of inflorescence branches, glabrous;

bracts 3, scalelike, triangular, 1–2 mm.

Peduncles

absent.

absent.

Involucres

3–7 per cluster, turbinate to turbinate-campanulate, 1.5–4 × 1–3.5 mm, rigid, glabrous or tomentose;

teeth 5, erect to spreading, 0.4–1.5 mm.

1 per node, turbinate, 2–2.5 × 1.2–1.8(–2) mm, glabrous;

teeth 5, erect, 0.2–0.3 mm.

Flowers

1.5–4 mm, glabrous;

perianth white to pink or rose;

tepals connate proximal 1/4, monomorphic, oblanceolate to elliptic or obovate to nearly oval;

stamens exserted, 1.5–4 mm;

filaments glabrous or sparsely pubescent proximally.

(2–)2.5–3 mm;

perianth pale yellow to yellow or whitish, glabrous;

tepals connate proximal 1/4, dimorphic, those of outer whorl obovate, 1–1.3 mm wide, those of inner whorl oblanceolate, 0.8–1 mm wide;

stamens included to slightly exserted, 2–2.5 mm;

filaments pilose proximally.

Achenes

light brown to brown, 1.8–4 mm, glabrous.

brown, 3–3.5 mm, glabrous.

2n

= 40.

Eriogonum kennedyi

Eriogonum mortonianum

Phenology Flowering Jul–Sep.
Habitat Red, gypsophilous clay flats and outcrops, mixed grassland, saltbush, and blackbrush communities
Elevation 1400-1600 m (4600-5200 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CA; NV
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AZ
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Varieties 5 (5 in the flora).

The capitate inflorescence and basal leaves of Eriogonum kennedyi distinguish it from the closely related E. wrightii. At higher elevations in the Transverse Ranges of California, the distinction between E. kennedyi var. kennedyi and E. wrightii var. subscaposum is not always clear, especially near the summit of Mt. Pinos. At lower elevations in the San Bernardino Mountains, in more arid habitats, the distinction between E. kennedyi var. austromontanum and E. wrightii var. subscaposum also is blurred. For the most part this intergradation seems to be associated with a reduction in the length of the inflorescence in depauperate expressions of var. subscaposum and not a result of hybridization. The extreme reduction seen in E. wrightii var. olanchense exemplifies the general trend in the California expressions of that species toward depauperate forms. It is felt that E. kennedyi itself is an established segregate that owes its origin to E. wrightii. Members of the species are food plants for Bauer’s dotted-blue butterfly (Euphilotes baueri) and the Ord Mountain metalmark butterfly (Apodemia mormo dialeuca).

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

Of conservation concern.

Eriogonum mortonianum is restricted to a series of low, gypsophilous hills southwest of Fredonia, Mohave County.

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

Key
1. Leaf tomentum white; plants forming dense mats; desert ranges, ec California, wc Nevada
var. purpusii
1. Leaf tomentum grayish or reddish- to brownish- white; plants usually forming loose, open mats; southern Sierra Nevada and Transverse Ranges of s California
→ 2
2. Leaf blades oblong, 0.3-0.5 × 0.1-0.4 cm
var. pinicola
2. Leaf blades oblanceolate to elliptic, 0.2-1.2 × 0.05-0.2 cm
→ 3
3. Scapes 0.5-2(-3) cm
var. alpigenum
3. Scapes 4-15 cm
→ 4
4. Leaf blades 0.2-0.4(-0.5) × 0.05-0.15(-0.2) cm; scapes glabrous; involucres 1.5-2.5 mm
var. kennedyi
4. Leaf blades (0.4-)0.6-1(-1.2) × 0.1-0.2 mm; scapes sparsely tomentose to floccose; involucres 2.5-4 mm
var. austromontanum
Source FNA vol. 5, p. 292. FNA vol. 5, p. 260.
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. 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. 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. 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. kennedyi var. alpigenum, E. kennedyi var. austromontanum, E. kennedyi var. kennedyi, E. kennedyi var. pinicola, E. kennedyi var. purpusii
Name authority Porter ex S. Watson: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 12: 263. (1877) Reveal: Brittonia 26: 90, fig. 1. (1974)
Web links