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goldencarpet buckwheat, goldencarpet wild buckwheat, wicker buckwheat

snow buckwheat, snow wild buckwheat

Habit Herbs, erect or prostrate to spreading, 0.5–6 dm, glabrous or occasionally tomentose, greenish to reddish. Herbs, erect to decumbent or prostrate, loosely matted, not scapose, 2–6 × 1–4(–6) dm, tomentose to floccose.
Stems

aerial flowering stems prostrate to erect, 0.2–2 dm, glabrous or occasionally tomen-tose.

spreading, with or without persistent leaf bases, up to 1/4 height of plant;

caudex stems absent or spreading to matted;

aerial flowering stems erect to spreading or decument to prostrate, slender, solid, not fistulose, (0.5–)1–3 dm, tomentose to floccose.

Leaves

basal or basal and cauline;

basal: petiole 1–8 cm, floccose, blade oblong-ovate, reniform, or rounded to cordate, 0.5–5 × 0.5–3.5 cm, densely white-tomentose abaxially, floccose or glabrous and reddish or greenish adaxially;

cauline: petiole 0.5–3 cm, floccose, blade cordate to reniform or orbiculate, 0.5–3 × 0.5–3 cm, similar to basal blade.

1 per node, sheathing up stems (1–)3–10(–12) cm;

petiole often twisted or curled, 1–10 cm, usually tomentose;

blade lanceolate or broadly lanceolate to elliptic or narrowly ovate, (1–)1.5–6(–8) × 0.6–1.5 cm, densely lanate on both surfaces or densely white-tomentose abaxially and grayish-tomentose to floccose adaxially, margins plane, rarely brownish.

Inflorescences

cymose, occasionally distally uniparous due to suppression of secondary branches, open, 2–50 × 3–40 cm;

branches glabrous or occasionally tomentose;

bracts 1–3(–4) × 1–2 mm.

cymose, 10–30 × 50–250 cm;

branches dichotomous, tomentose to floccose;

bracts 3, semileaflike to leaflike, lanceolate to narrowly elliptic, and 5–30 × 3–20 mm proximally, scalelike, triangular, and 1–4(–5) mm distally.

Peduncles

absent or erect, straight, slender, 0.1–0.5 cm, glabrous.

absent.

Involucres

terminal at tips of slender branchlets proximally or appressed to branches, cylindric or occasionally turbinate, 2–4 × 1.5–2.5 mm, glabrous or rarely floccose;

teeth 5, erect, 0.3–0.5 mm.

1 per node, turbinate, 3–5 × 2–3 mm, tomentose to floccose;

teeth 5, erect, 0.5–1.5 mm.

Flowers

1–2.5 mm;

perianth white to rose or yellow, glabrous;

tepals monomorphic, obovate;

stamens included, 1–1.5 mm;

filaments glabrous.

3–6 mm;

perianth cream to reddish, glabrous;

tepals connate proximally, dimorphic, those of outer whorl oblong to oval, 3–6 × 2–4 mm, those of inner whorl oblanceolate to oblong, 4–6 × 1–2 mm;

stamens included to slightly exserted, 2–5 mm;

filaments pilose proximally.

Achenes

light brown, 3-gonous, 1–2 mm.

light brown to brown, (3.5–)4–4.5(–5) mm, glabrous.

Eriogonum luteolum

Eriogonum niveum

Phenology Flowering Jun–Oct.
Habitat Sandy to gravelly flats, slopes, bluffs, and rocky, often volcanic outcrops, mixed grassland and sagebrush communities, montane conifer woodlands
Elevation 30-1100(-1300) m (100-3600(-4300) ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CA; OR
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
ID; OR; WA; BC
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Varieties 4 (4 in the flora).

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

Eriogonum niveum is a highly variable species with a multitude of minor expressions that do not appear to have any biogeographic or taxonomic significance. The species is found mainly on the grassy plains east of the Cascade Range in southern British Columbia, west-central Idaho, northeastern Oregon, and eastern Washington. Some populations closely approach E. strictum var. proliferum, but the densely lanate leaves and semileaflike to leaflike bracts nearly always distinguish E. niveum from that taxon where their ranges overlap. It may well prove that E. niveum would be better treated as a subspecies of E. strictum, but the nomenclatural combination is not available and it is not suggested here. The plants do well in cultivation.

N. J. Turner et al. (1980) reported that the snow wild buckwheat was used by the Okanagan-Colville people for colds and as a wash for cuts.

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

Key
1. Plants prostrate to spreading, 0.5-3 dm; involucres 3-4 mm, often terminal on elongated branchlets; leaves basal and cauline; serpentine soil; w Alameda and s Marin counties, California
var. caninum
1. Plants erect, 2-6 dm; involucres 2-3.5 mm, appressed to inflorescence branches; leaves basal, sometimes also cauline; serpentine or granitic soils; San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Mariposa counties, California, n to sw and sc Oregon
→ 2
2. Involucres 2-3 mm; flowers 2-2.5 mm; granitic soils; Sierra Nevada, Alpine and Tuolumne counties, California
var. saltuarium
2. Involucres 3-3.5 mm; flowers 1-2 mm; serpentine soils; Coast Ranges and lower foothills of Sierra Nevada, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Mariposa counties, California, n to sw and sc Oregon
→ 3
3. Flowers 1.8-2 mm; Coast Ranges, w California from San Mateo and Santa Clara counties n to sw and sc Oregon
var. luteolum
3. Flowers 1-1.5(-1.8) mm; e California from Mariposa County to Plumas County
var. pedunculatum
Source FNA vol. 5, p. 420. FNA vol. 5, p. 318.
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. 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. 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. 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. luteolum var. caninum, E. luteolum var. luteolum, E. luteolum var. pedunculatum, E. luteolum var. saltuarium
Synonyms E. vimineum var. luteolum E. niveum subsp. decumbens, E. niveum subsp. dichotomum
Name authority Greene: Pittonia 3: 200. (1897) Douglas ex Bentham: Trans. Linn. Soc. London 17: 414. (1836)
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