Flora of North America species comparison

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Eriogonum panamintense

Eriogonum ovalifolium

Panamint Mountain buckwheat, Panamint Mountain wild buckwheat

cushion buckwheat, cushion wild buckwheat, oval-leaf buckwheat, oval-leaf eriogonum
Habit Herbs, erect, 1.5–3 × 1–4 dm, tomentose, brownish. Herbs, forming pulvinate to cespitose maps, usually scapose, 0.2–3 × 0.5–5 dm, floccose to tomentose or lanate.
Stems

slightly spreading to erect, without persistent leaf bases, up to 1/5 height of plant;

caudex stems absent;

aerial flowering stems erect, slender, solid, not fistulose, 0.5–1.5 dm, tomentose.

decumbent to spreading, with persistent leaf bases, up to 1/5 height of plant;

caudex stems matted to spreading;

aerial flowering stems scapelike, spreading to erect, infrequently decumbent to ascending, slender, solid, not fistulose, 0.03–4 dm, floccose to tomentose or lanate or nearly glabrous.
Leaves

basal, 1 per node;

petiole 1–5 cm, tomentose;

blade elliptic to ovate or obovate, 1.5–4 × 1–2.5 cm, white-tomentose abaxially, less so and often greenish adaxially, margins plane.

basal, 1 per node;

petiole not twisted or curled, 0.1–10 cm, mostly tomentose;

blade oblanceolate to elliptic or spatulate to rounded, 0.2–6 × (0.1–)0.2–1.5 cm, lanate to tomentose or floccose, sometimes less so adaxially, margins plane, occasionally brownish.
Inflorescences

cymose with involucres racemosely disposed at tips, (10–)12–20 × 1–5 cm;

branches dichotomous, tomentose;

bracts 3, scalelike, narrowly triangular, and 1–4 mm, or leaflike, elliptic to oval, and 5–15 × 5–15 mm.

capitate or rarely umbellate, 0.7–5(–7) × 1.5–5 cm;

bracts 3, scalelike, linear to triangular, 0.8–4 mm.
Peduncles

absent.

absent.
Involucres

1 per node, turbinate, 3–5 × 2–4 mm, tomentose;

teeth 5, erect, 0.4–0.8 mm.

1 per node or (2–)3–15 per cluster, turbinate to turbinate-campanulate, (2–)3.5–5(–8) × 2–4 mm, tomentose to floccose;

teeth 5, erect, 0.1–1 mm.
Flowers

3.5–5 mm;

perianth white to whitish brown, glabrous;

tepals connate proximal 1/4, monomorphic, oblanceolate;

stamens exserted, 3–7 mm;

filaments pilose proximally.

(2.5–)3–6(–7) mm;

perianth yellow or white to cream, rose, red, or purple, glabrous;

tepals connate proximally, dimorphic, those of outer whorl usually oval to orbiculate, 2–4 × 2–4 mm, those of inner whorl oblanceolate to elliptic, 3–7 × 0.8–1.5 mm;

stamens mostly included, 1–3 mm;

filaments pilose proximally.
Achenes

light brown, 2.5–3 mm, glabrous.

light brown to brown, 2–3 mm, glabrous.

Eriogonum panamintense

Eriogonum ovalifolium
Phenology Flowering May–Oct.
Habitat Rocky to gravelly slopes and ridges, sagebrush and mountain mahogany communities, pinyon-juniper and montane conifer woodlands
Elevation (1600-)1800-2900 m ((5200-)5900-9500 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CA; NV
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AZ; CA; CO; ID; MT; NM; NV; OR; UT; WA; WY; AB; BC
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Eriogonum panamintense is widely scattered in the desert ranges from the southern tip of the White Mountains in Inyo County to the New York Mountains of San Bernardino County, California, eastward across Nevada in the Magruder and Silver Peak (Esmeralda County), Grapevine (Nye County), and Spring (Charleston) mountains (Clark County) of Nevada, on the Hualapai Mountains south of Kingman, and on Mt. Bangs south of Littlefield, Mohave County, Arizona. The Panamint Mountain wild buckwheat typically grows at elevations in California higher than does E. rupinum, but in Nevada their elevation ranges overlap, as in the Magruder Mountains and near Westgard Pass in the White Mountains.

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

Varieties 11 (11 in the flora).

Eriogonum ovalifolium is a highly diverse and widespread complex of generally distinct but sometimes intergrading varieties. Several varieties are in cultivation and make worthy additions, especially to the rock garden. The dimorphic nature of the tepals is obvious only in fully mature flowers. In some populations of the more depauperate varieties, such as var. nivale and var. depressum, the tepals may not be as distinctly dimorphic. Nonetheless, the overall aspect of the species is unmistakable.

There are several reports of traditional use of Eriogonum ovalifolium by Native Americans. P. Train et al. (1941) indicated that a decoction of the roots is used in Nevada for colds. R. V. Chamberlin (1911) reported that the Gosiute Indians in southwestern Utah used it in a poultice or wash to treat venereal diseases.

Members of the species are food plants for Bauer’s dotted-blue butterfly (Euphilotes baueri).

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Key
1. Leaf blades 0.2-1.2(-2) cm; scapes usually 0.3-5(-9) cm, rarely longer; involucres usually 2-4.5 (rarely 5-8) mm
→ 2
1. Leaf blades usually 1-6 cm, occasionally shorter; scapes (1-)5-30(-40) cm; involucres (3.5-)4-6.5(-8) mm
→ 8
2. Perianths yellow; c Nevada and ec California
var. caelestinum
2. Perianths white, sometimes rose, purple, or red; widespread
→ 3
3. Leaf margins brownish
→ 4
3. Leaf margins not brownish or, if so, plants of high elevation, central Sierra Nevada
→ 5
4. Leaf blades densely lanate, margins brownish
var. eximium
4. Leaf blades tomentose, margins not brownish
var. williamsiae
5. Involucres 5-8 mm
→ 6
5. Involucres 3-4.5 mm
→ 7
6. Leaf blades white-lanate; San Bernardino Mountains, s California
var. vineum
6. Leaf blades tomentose to floccose; s Sierra Nevada, California
var. monarchense
7. Leaf blades greenish and thinly tomentose at least adaxially, usually elliptic, infrequently oblong to spatulate; scapes often suberect to decumbent, usually thinly floccose; Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, desert ranges of ne Nevada and e Oregon
var. depressum
7. Leaves densely lanate to white-tomentose on both surfaces or only slightly less so adaxially, not at all greenish, usually round; scapes usually erect, lanate or tomentose; Sierra-Cascade cordillera, desert ranges of Great Basin
var. nivale
8. Scapes usually 1-5(-7.5) cm; leaf margins brownish; rare, wc Nevada, ec California
→ 9
8. Scapes usually (4-)7-30(-40) cm, rarely shorter; leaf margins only rarely brownish; widespread
→ 10
9. Leaf blades densely lanate, brownish margins
var. eximium
9. Leaf blades white-tomentose, margins not brownish
var. williamsiae
10. Inflorescences umbellate, branches 1-3 cm; c Idaho and Montana
var. pansum
10. Inflorescences capitate, branches absent; widespread
→ 11
11. Flowers 5-7 mm; involucres 5-7 mm; s California
var. vineum
11. Flowers 4-5 mm; involucres 4-6.5 mm; widespread
→ 12
12. Perianths yellow
var. ovalifolium
12. Perianths white to rose or purple.
→ 13
13. Leaf blades spatulate, oblong, or obovate to oval; scapes (4-)5-20 cm; widespread
var. purpureum
13. Leaf blades oblanceolate to narrowly elliptic; scapes (15-)20-30(-40) cm; Montana and Wyoming
var. ochroleucum
Source FNA vol. 5, p. 295. FNA vol. 5, p. 319.
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. nudum, E. nummulare, E. nutans, E. ochrocephalum, E. ordii, E. ostlundii, E. ovalifolium, E. palmerianum, 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. 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. ovalifolium var. caelestinum, E. ovalifolium var. depressum, E. ovalifolium var. eximium, E. ovalifolium var. monarchense, E. ovalifolium var. nivale, E. ovalifolium var. ochroleucum, E. ovalifolium var. ovalifolium, E. ovalifolium var. pansum, E. ovalifolium var. purpureum, E. ovalifolium var. vineum, E. ovalifolium var. williamsiae
Synonyms E. racemosum var. desertorum, E. reliquum Eucycla ovalifolia
Name authority C. V. Morton: J. Wash. Acad. Sci. 25: 308. (1935) Nuttall: J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 7: 50, plate 8, fig. 1. (1834)
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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