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

fine branch wild buckwheat, sand buckwheat, sand wild buckwheat

kidney leaf buckwheat, kidney-leaf wild buckwheat

Habit Shrubs, erect to spreading, not scapose, (2–)3–10(–12) × 5–15(–20) dm, white-tomentose to floccose, or green and nearly glabrous. Herbs, spreading, annual, 0.5–4 dm, glabrous, greenish, grayish, or reddish.
Stems

spreading, often without persistent leaf bases, up to 1/2 height of plant;

caudex stems absent or spreading in moving sand;

aerial flowering stems spreading, slender, solid, not fistulose, 0.3–1 dm, white-tomentose, floccose to glabrate or glabrous.

caudex absent;

aerial flowering stems erect, solid, not fistulose, 0.2–0.8 dm, glabrous except for few hairs proximally.

Leaves

cauline, 1 per node;

petiole 0.2–0.5 cm, tomentose to floccose;

blade linear-lanceolate to linear-oblanceolate to narrowly oblong, or lanceolate to narrowly elliptic, 1.5–4 × 0.2–0.8(–1.2) cm, densely white-tomentose abaxially, less so and greenish adaxially, margins plane, infrequently revolute.

basal;

petiole 0.5–6 cm, tomentose to floccose;

blade obovate or reniform to rounded, 0.5–2(–2.5) × 0.5–2 cm, densely white-tomentose abaxially, tomentose to subglabrous and grayish or greenish adaxially, margins plane.

Inflorescences

cymose, open, 5–40 × 10–50 cm;

branches dichtomous proximally, often with involucres racemosely arranged proximally, tomentose to floccose or glabrate, occasionally glabrous;

bracts 3, scalelike, linear to triangular, 1–3(–6) mm.

cymose, open, 5–35 × 5–35 cm;

branches glabrous;

bracts 3, scalelike, 1–3 × 1–2 mm.

Peduncles

absent.

erect, mostly curved, slender to capillary, 0.3–1.5 cm, glabrous.

Involucres

1 per node, turbinate to turbinate-campanulate, 1.5–3 × 1–2 mm, tomentose to floccose or glabrous;

teeth 5, erect, 0.4–0.7 mm.

turbinate to turbinate-campanulate, 1.5–2(–2.2) × 1.5–2.5 mm, glabrous, glaucous;

teeth 5, erect, 0.5–0.8 mm.

Flowers

(2–)2.5–3.5 mm;

perianth white or pale yellow to yellow, glabrous;

tepals connate proximal 1/4–1/3, essentially monomorphic, oblong to broadly obovate;

stamens slightly exserted, 2–4 mm;

filaments sparsely pilose proximally.

1–1.5 mm in early anthesis, becoming 1.5–2 mm;

perianth yellowish to yellow in early anthesis, becoming reddish, glandular;

tepals dimorphic, those of outer whorl broadly ovate, those of inner whorl oblong;

stamens exserted, 1.5–2.5 mm;

filaments pilose proximally.

Achenes

light brown, 2.5–3.5 mm, glabrous except for minutely papillate beak.

brown, lenticular, 0.8–1 mm, glabrous.

2n

= 32.

Eriogonum leptocladon

Eriogonum reniforme

Phenology Flowering Feb–Aug.
Habitat Sandy flats, washes, and slopes, saltbush, greasewood, creosote bush, and sagebrush communities, pinyon and/or juniper woodlands
Elevation 0-1700 m (0-5600 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CO; NM; UT
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AZ; CA; NV; Mexico (Baja California)
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).

Eriogonum leptocladon is localized on moving sands on the Colorado Plateau. It is not unusual, therefore, for portions of the shrub to be buried in sand, especially the main, woody trunk from which the flowering stems arise. In the Four Corners area three species share portions of overlapping ranges, and herbarium material from there can be difficult to separate. In northwestern New Mexico, var. ramosissimum approaches E. effusum, and in eastern San Juan County the two can be distinguished only by the open, spreading inflorescence branching pattern of var. ramosissimum as compared to the densely branched, compact inflorescence of E. effusum. In the field, the former is confined to sandy areas whereas the latter is typically on heavier, usually clayey soils. In south-central Utah, var. ramosissimum approaches E. nummulare. There, both are found on moving sands, and only the degree of stoutness of the branches can be used to differentiate them when cauline leaves are absent. For the most part, the inflorescence branches of E. nummulare are more rigid and stouter than those of var. ramosissimum, which tend to be flexible and slender. When leaves are present, those of the former are broader and more apically rounded compared to those of the latter.

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

Eriogonum reniforme is infrequent to locally common throughout its range on the Mojave and Sonoran deserts in Arizona, southeastern California, and southern Nevada, where it extends northward along the Lahontan Trough onto the cold desert of the Great Basin. It is disjunct in the Tucson Mountains of Maricopa County, Arizona, and while specimens have not been collected there since 1906 (Thornber 5886, CAS, MO), the species recently was found north of Wickenburg (Welnick s.n., undated, ASU). It just enters Mexico, where it is rare.

Eriogonum reniforme is a food plant for the rare Mojave dotted-blue butterfly (Euphilotes mojave). The small blue (Philotiella speciosa) also feeds on these plants.

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

Key
1. Perianths pale yellow to yellow
var. leptocladon
1. Perianths white
→ 2
2. Flowering stems and inflorescence branches tomentose, rarely floccose
var. ramosissimum
2. Flowering stems and inflorescence branches glabrous
var. papiliunculi
Source FNA vol. 5, p. 249. FNA vol. 5, p. 404.
Parent taxa Polygonaceae > subfam. Eriogonoideae > Eriogonum > subg. Eucycla Polygonaceae > subfam. Eriogonoideae > Eriogonum > subg. Ganysma
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. kennedyi, E. kingii, E. lachnogynum, E. lancifolium, E. latens, E. latifolium, E. lemmonii, 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. 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. leptocladon var. leptocladon, E. leptocladon var. papiliunculi, E. leptocladon var. ramosissimum
Synonyms E. effusum subsp. leptocladon
Name authority Torrey & A. Gray: in War Department [U.S.], Pacif. Railr. Rep. 2(1): 129. (1857) Torrey & Frémont: in J. C. Frémont, Rep. Exped. Rocky Mts., 317. (1845)
Web links