Flora of North America species comparison

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Eriogonum nidularium

Eriogonum truncatum

bird nest wild buckwheat, birdnest buckwheat, whisk broom

Mount Diablo buckwheat, Mt. Diablo buckwheat, Mt. Diablo wild buckwheat
Habit Herbs, erect to slightly spreading, 0.5–1.5(–2) dm, floccose to tomentose, greenish to tawny. Herbs, erect, 1–4.5 dm, tomentose to floccose, grayish.
Stems

aerial flowering stems mostly erect, 0.05–0.3 dm, floccose to tomentose.

aerial flowering stems erect or nearly so, (0.1–)0.2–0.6(–0.8) dm, tomen-tose.
Leaves

basal;

petiole 1–3(–5) cm, tomentose;

blade rounded to cordate, 1–2(–2.5) × 1–2(–2.5) cm, densely white-tomentose abaxially, tomentose to floccose and occasionally greenish adaxially.

basal and cauline;

basal: petiole (1–)2–5(–7) cm, floccose, blade narrowly oblong to obovate, 1–5(–7) × (0.5–)1–2(–3) cm, densely grayish-tomen-tose abaxially, floccose to glabrate and greenish adaxially;

cauline: petiole (0.5–)1–2(–3) cm, floccose, blade narrowly oblong, (0.8–)1–3(–6) × 0.2–1(–2) cm, similar to basal blade.
Inflorescences

narrowly cymose, distally uniparous due to suppression of secondary branches, diffuse, 5–15(–20) × 5–20(–30) cm;

branches inwardly curved distally, floccose to tomentose;

bracts 0.5–3 × 1–3 mm.

cymose, open, (5–)10–30(–40) × 5–30 cm;

branches tomentose to floccose;

bracts 0.5–2 × 0.5–1 mm.
Peduncles

absent.

absent.
Involucres

appressed to branches, cylindric-turbinate, 1–1.3 × 0.5–0.7 mm, floccose;

teeth 5, erect, 0.1–0.2 mm.

terminal at tips of slender branchlets proximally, not appressed to branches, turbinate, 2.5–3.5(–4) × 2–2.5 mm, tomentose;

teeth 5, erect, 0.1–0.3 mm.
Flowers

1–3(–3.5) mm;

perianth pale yellow or yellow, rarely creamy white, becoming red, glabrous;

tepals dimorphic, those of outer whorl broadly fan-shaped, those of inner whorl oblanceolate;

stamens included, 1–1.5 mm;

filaments pilose proximally.

(1.5–)1.7–2(–2.2) mm;

perianth white to rose, glabrous;

tepals essentially monomorphic, elliptic to oblong or obovate;

stamens included, 1.5–2 mm;

filaments glabrous;

styles 0.2–0.3 mm.
Achenes

light brown, 3-gonous, 1–1.3 mm.

light brown, 3-gonous, 1.7–2 mm;

beak smooth.

Eriogonum nidularium

Eriogonum truncatum
Phenology Flowering Mar–Oct. Flowering Apr–Aug.
Habitat Sandy to gravelly washes, flats, and slopes, saltbush, greasewood, creosote bush, blackbrush, and sagebrush communities, pinyon and/or juniper woodlands Sandy slopes, mixed grassland and chaparral communities, oak woodlands
Elevation (300-)500-2300(-2700) m ((1000-)1600-7500(-8900) ft) 200-400 m (700-1300 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CA; ID; NV; OR; UT
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CA
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Eriogonum nidularium is common and widespread, sometimes becoming weedy, especially along roadsides. It is basically a species of the Great Basin and the Mojave Desert, found mainly in eastern California and Nevada, extending into northwestern Arizona, southwestern Idaho, southeastern Oregon, and southwestern Utah. The numerous, often distinctive, incurved inflorescence branches resemble a bird nest, as reflected in the common name.

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

Of conservation concern.

Eriogonum truncatum is presumed extinct. It is known only from seven collections, most made in the Marsh Creek and Mt. Diablo areas of Contra Costa County. It was found also at Suisun in Solano County (Earle s.n., 3 Aug 1888, DUKE). Three collections are widely distributed in herbaria: M. L. Baker 2833, Marsh Creek, 28 Apr 1903 (B, CAS, F, MICH, MIN, MSC, NY, POM, RM, UC), M. K. Curran s.n., Antioch, May 1886 (CAS, CS, DS, ISC, JEPS, NY, POM, UC), and J. T. Howell 11816, 10 miles from Clayton on Marsh Creek Road, 8 Apr 1934 (CAS, DS, F, MICH, MIN, MO, MONTU, NY, UC, RSA). Eriogonum truncatum may be quickly distinguished from the morphologically similar E. roseum by its consistently dichotomously branched inflorescences, with each new branch curving upward gracefully from the node. The ultimate inflorescence branches of E. roseum are typically composed of several racemosely arranged involucres along a single, elongated branch.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Source FNA vol. 5, p. 427. FNA vol. 5, p. 418.
Parent taxa Polygonaceae > subfam. Eriogonoideae > Eriogonum > subg. Oregonium Polygonaceae > subfam. Eriogonoideae > Eriogonum > subg. Oregonium
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. 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. 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. 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. 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 subsp. nidularium
Name authority Coville: Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 4: 186. (1893) Torrey & A. Gray: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 8: 173. (1870)
Web links 
Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from the online version of the Flora of North America, who have made most of their content available via a Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0).



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