Flora of North America species comparison

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Eriogonum nudum

Eriogonum contortum

bare-stem buckwheat, barestem wild buckwheat, naked buckwheat, naked wild buckwheat, nude buckwheat

grand buckwheat, Grand Valley wild buckwheat
Habit Herbs, mostly erect, infrequently scapose, (0.5–)1–15(–20) × 0.5–3 dm, glabrous or floccose to tomentose, usually greenish, occasionally grayish. Herbs, spreading, not scapose, 0.5–0.8(–1) × 0.8–3.5 dm, thinly floccose or glabrous, greenish.
Stems

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

caudex stems absent;

aerial flowering stems erect to spreading, slender to stout, solid or hollow, occasionally fistulose, 0.3–4(–10) dm, glabrous or lanate to tomentose or floccose.

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 or sheathing up stem 0.5–4 dm;

petiole 1–10 cm, glabrous or tomentose;

blade oblanceolate to elliptic or ovate, 1–6 × (0.3–)1–4 cm, densely white-lanate or tomentose abaxially, tomentose to floccose or subglabrous to glabrous adaxially, margins plane or undulate-crisped.

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, rarely umbellate or capitate, 2–100(–150) × 2–40(–80) cm;

branches usually dichotomous, glabrous or tomentose to floccose or sparsely pubescent;

bracts 3, scalelike, 0.5–3(–5) 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

1 per node or 2–10 per cluster, turbinate to turbinate-campanulate, (2.5–)3–5(–7) × (1.5–)2–4 mm, glabrous, tomentose, or sparsely pubescent;

teeth 5–8, 0.2–0.6 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

(1.5–)2–4 mm;

perianth white or yellow, sometimes pink or rose, glabrous or pubescent;

tepals connate proximal 1/4, monomorphic, oblong to obovate;

stamens exserted, 2–5 mm;

filaments pilose proximally.

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 to brown, 1.5–3.5 mm, glabrous.

brown, 2–2.5 mm, glabrous.

Eriogonum nudum

Eriogonum contortum
Phenology Flowering May–Aug.
Habitat Heavy shale or clay flats and slopes, saltbush communities
Elevation 1300-1700 m [4300-5600 ft]
Distribution
from FNA
CA; NV; OR; WA; nw Mexico
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CO; UT
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Varieties 13 (13 in the flora).

Several local groups of Native Americans in California used members of this species in a variety of ways. S. A. Barrett and E. W. Gifford (1933) and S. M. Schenck and E. W. Gifford (1952) reported the consumption of raw young stems that are rather moist and tasty, although there is a sour aftertaste. The Kawaiisu used the hollow stems (probably var. westonii, rather than var. pauciflorum) as drinking tubes and as pipes (M. L. Zigmond 1981). Zigmond reported also that the roots of var. pauciflorum are used as an infusion for coughs.

Members of Eriogonum nudum are food plants for the Bauer’s dotted-blue butterfly (Euphilotes baueri), the Pacific dotted-blue (E. enoptes), the gorgon copper (Gaeides gorgon), and the Mormon metalmark (Apodemia mormo).

(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.)
Key
1. Involucres and inflorescence branches tomentose to floccose; leaves usually basal
→ 2
1. Involucres and inflorescence branches glabrous or, if pubescent, leaves sheathing up stems
→ 3
2. Perianths white; flowering stems lanate to tomentose; leaf blades 2-3.5 cm; s Sierra Nevada
var. regirivum
2. Perianths yellow or white to rose; flowering stems tomentose to floccose; leaf blades 2-4 cm; s Oregon, n California, wc Nevada
var. oblongifolium
3. Leaves sheathing up stems, margins often strongly undulate-crisped
→ 4
3. Leaves basal, margins plane or slightly undulate-crisped
→ 8
4. Flowering stems tomentose
→ 5
4. Flowering stems glabrous
→ 6
5. Perianths pubescent; flowers 1.5-2 mm; involucres 3-4 mm; Sierra Nevada, California
var. regirivum
5. Perianths glabrous; flowers 3-4 mm; involucres 4-6 mm; Coast Ranges, California
var. decurrens
6. Leaf blades densely lanate abaxially, tomentose adaxially; involucres 5-10 per cluster; Sierra Nevada, California
var. murinum
6. Leaf blades tomentose abaxially, less so to floccose, glabrous, or nearly so adaxially; involucres 1 per node or 2-5 per cluster; widespread, Coast Ranges, California
→ 7
7. Flowering stems occasionally fistulose; involucres (2-)3-5 per cluster; perianths white to pink, rarely yellowish
var. auriculatum
7. Flowering stems strongly fistulose; involucres 1 per node; perianths pale yellowish white to yellow or white
var. indictum
8. Involucres 1(-2) per cluster
var. westonii
8. Involucres 2-10 per cluster
→ 12
9. Flowering stems fistulose; perianths yellow, infrequently white; c California
var. westonii
9. Flowering stems not fistulose or, if so, plants of sw California; perianths white, rarely yellow
→ 10
10. Perianths pubescent or, infrequently, glabrous; s California
var. pauciflorum
10. Flowers glabrous; sw Oregon, n California, Nevada
→ 11
11. Leaf blades 1-5 cm; sw Oregon, n California (including w slope of Sierra Nevada), Washington
var. nudum
11. Leaf blades 1-2 cm; Sierra Nevada of California and adjacent desert ranges of wc Nevada
var. deductum
12. Perianths pubescent, often yellow
→ 13
12. Perianths usually glabrous abaxially, white, rarely yellow
→ 14
13. Flowering stems not fistulose; leaf blades floccose or glabrous adaxially, margins plane; plants of nonaridregions
var. pubiflorum
13. Flowering stems slightly to distinctly fistulose; leaf blades tomentose to floccose adaxially, margins undulate-crisped; plants of arid regions
var. westonii
14. Inflorescences capitate or nearly so; alpine, Sierra Nevada
E. nudumvar. scapigerum
14. Inflorescences cymose or, if capitate, not alpine.
→ 15
15. Involucres 1(-2) per cluster, 5- 7 mm; mountains of s California
var. pauciflorum
15. Involucres 2-10 per cluster, 3-5 mm; mountains and foothills of c and n California or coastal bluffs. [16. Shifted to left margin—Ed.]
→ 16
16. Inflorescences cymose and branched 2 or more times; involucres 2-5 per cluster; mountains and foothills of c and n California, Oregon, and Washington.
var. nudum
16. Inflorescences capitate or cymose and branched 1-2 times; involucres 5-10 per cluster; coastal bluffs, sw Oregon, ne California
var. paralinum
Source FNA vol. 5, p. 309. Treatment author: James L. Reveal. FNA vol. 5, p. 270. Treatment author: James L. Reveal.
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. 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. 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
Subordinate taxa
E. nudum var. auriculatum, E. nudum var. decurrens, E. nudum var. deductum, E. nudum var. indictum, E. nudum var. murinum, E. nudum var. nudum, E. nudum var. oblongifolium, E. nudum var. paralinum, E. nudum var. pauciflorum, E. nudum var. pubiflorum, E. nudum var. regirivum, E. nudum var. westonii, E. nudumvar. scapigerum
Synonyms E. latifolium subsp. nudum E. effusum subsp. contortum
Name authority Douglas ex Bentham: Trans. Linn. Soc. London 17: 413. (1836) Small ex Rydberg: Fl. Colorado, 104, 107. (1906)
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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