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ocherflower wild buckwheat, white woolly buckwheat, whitewoolly wild buckwheat

Esmeralda buckwheat, Esmeralda wild buckwheat

Habit Herbs, matted, scapose, 0.5–4.5(–5) × 0.5–3 dm, glabrous or glandular, grayish. Herbs, erect to spreading, annual, (0.5–)1–5(–10) dm, glabrous or glandular proximally, mostly grayish.
Stems

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

caudex stems matted or absent;

aerial flowering stems scapelike, erect, slender, solid, not fistulose, (0.5–)1.5–4.5(–5) dm, glabrous, rarely slightly floccose, or glandular below inflorescence.

caudex absent;

aerial flowering stems erect, solid, not fistulose, 0.5–1(–3) dm, glabrous or sparsely glandular proximally.

Leaves

basal, fasciculate in terminal tufts, sometimes 1 per node and sheathing up stem 1–4 cm;

petiole 1–4(–5) cm, tomentose;

blade oblanceolate or lanceolate to elliptic, oblong, or ovate to obovate, (0.6–)1–3.5(–4) × (0.3–)0.5–1.5 cm, densely tomentose abaxially, only slightly less so adaxially, margins plane.

basal;

petiole 0.5–4 cm, strigose to hispid;

blade obovate to round-ovate, 0.5–2.5 × 0.4–2 cm, sparsely strigose to pilose-hispid, often slightly glandular, grayish, greenish, or reddish on both surfaces, or reddish adaxially, margins plane.

Inflorescences

capitate, 1.5–2.5 cm;

branches absent;

bracts 3, scalelike, narrowly triangular, 1–2.5 mm.

cymose, open to diffuse, 5–40(–70) × 5–50 cm;

branches not fistulose, glabrous or sparsely glandular near proximal nodes;

bracts 3, scalelike, 0.5–3 × 0.5–2 mm.

Peduncles

absent or erect, slender, 0.1–0.5(–0.6) cm, glabrous.

spreading to reflexed, straight, slender to filiform, 0.2–1.5 cm, glabrous.

Involucres

5–8 per cluster, turbinate to campanulate, 3.5–5.5(–6) × (1.5–)2–4.5(–5) mm, rigid, floccose at least on teeth, occasionally glandular, rarely glabrous;

teeth 6–8, erect, 0.5–1 mm.

narrowly turbinate, 0.8–1.8 × 0.5–1.2 mm, glabrous;

teeth 4–5, erect, 0.2–0.4 mm.

Flowers

1.5–3 mm;

perianth yellow, glabrous or weakly glandular abaxially;

tepals connate proximally, monomorphic, broadly oblong;

stamens exserted, 2.5–3.5(–4) mm;

filaments pilose proximally.

1–3 mm;

perianth white to pinkish with greenish or reddish midribs, glabrous, minutely pustulose proximally;

tepals monomorphic, oblanceolate to oblong;

stamens included, 1–1.5(–1.8) mm;

filaments glabrous.

Achenes

light brown, (1.5–)2–3 mm, glabrous.

light brown, 3-gonous, 1.4–2.5 mm, glabrous.

Eriogonum ochrocephalum

Eriogonum esmeraldense

Distribution
from FNA
CA; ID; NV; OR
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CA; NV; UT
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

Variety ochrocephalum is occasionally seen in rock gardens, and var. calcareum is worthy of cultivation.

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

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

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

Key
1. Scapes glandular at least proximal to inflorescence; ne California, nw Nevada
var. ochrocephalum
1. Scapes glabrous or, rarely, slightly floccose; sw Idaho, se Oregon, wc Nevada
var. calcareum
1. Flowering stems and inflorescence branches glabrous
var. esmeraldense
1. Flowering stems and inflorescence branches glandular to sparsely glandular proximally
var. toiyabense
Source FNA vol. 5, p. 283. FNA vol. 5, p. 392.
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. 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. 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. 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. ochrocephalum var. calcareum, E. ochrocephalum var. ochrocephalum
E. esmeraldense var. esmeraldense, E. esmeraldense var. toiyabense
Name authority S. Watson: in W. H. Brewer et al., Bot. California 2: 480. (1880) S. Watson: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 24: 85. (1889)
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