The green links below add additional plants to the comparison table. Blue links lead to other Web sites.
enable glossary links

wand buckwheat, wand wild buckwheat

Conejo buckwheat, saffron wild buckwheat

Habit Herbs, erect, 1–8 dm, thinly tomentose to floccose, whitish to grayish or brownish to reddish brown. Herbs, erect to spreading, not scapose, 3–5 × 5–10 dm, lanate to tomentose.
Stems

aerial flowering stems erect, 0.5–3 dm, thinly tomentose to floccose.

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

caudex stems matted to spreading;

aerial flowering stems spreading to erect, slender, solid, not fistulose, 0.2–1 dm, lanate to tomentose.

Leaves

basal and cauline;

basal: petiole 1–4 cm, thinly tomentose to floccose, blade oblanceolate to narrowly oblong, 1–3(–5) × (0.3–)0.5–1(–2) cm, tomentose on both surfaces, sometimes merely floccose and grayish or brownish to reddish brown adaxially;

cauline: petiole 0.3–1.5(–2) cm, mostly floccose, blade elliptic, 0.5–3 × 0.3–1 cm, mostly tomentose and whitish to grayish.

cauline, 1 per node;

petiole 0.3–1.2 cm tomentose;

blade broadly ovate, 1–3(–3.5) × 0.8–2.5(–3) cm, lanate to tomentose.

Inflorescences

cymose, often distally uniparous due to suppression of secondary branches, open, 10–70 × 10–45 cm;

branches straight or nearly so, infrequently inwardly curved distally, thinly tomentose to floccose;

bracts 1–3 × 1–3 mm.

cymose-umbellate, 0.5–3 × 3–8 cm;

branches umbellate, lanate to tomentose;

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

Peduncles

absent.

absent.

Involucres

appressed to branches, cylindric, (3.5–)4–5 × 2–3 mm;

teeth 5, erect, 0.2–0.4 mm.

1 per node, broadly campanulate, 3–4 × 3–5 mm, tomentose;

teeth 5–6, erect, 0.5–1 mm.

Flowers

1.5–2(–2.5) mm;

perianth white to pink or red, occasionally yellow, glabrous;

tepals monomorphic, narrowly obovate to oblong;

stamens included, 1–1.5 mm;

filaments pilose proximally.

5–6 mm, including elongate, rounded, slightly winged, stipelike base;

perianth bright yellow, glabrous;

tepals connate proximally, dimorphic, those of outer whorl narrowly oblong, 3–4 × 0.7–0.9 mm, those of inner whorl oblong to spatulate, 3.5–5 × 1–1.5 mm;

stamens exserted, 3–5 mm;

filaments pilose proximally.

Achenes

brown, 3-gonous, 1.8–2(–2.2) mm.

brown, 3-gonous, 2.5–3 mm.

2n

= 18.

= 40.

Eriogonum roseum

Eriogonum crocatum

Phenology Flowering May–Nov. Flowering Apr–Jul.
Habitat Sandy and gravelly flats and slopes, mixed grassland, chaparral, and sagebrush communities, oak and pine woodlands Sandstone slopes, oak woodlands
Elevation 0-2200 m (0-7200 ft) 60-200 m (200-700 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CA; OR; Mexico (Baja California)
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CA
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Eriogonum roseum is widespread and typically common; occasionally it will be locally abundant but only rarely can it be considered weedy. It occurs from southwestern Oregon south through much of California to northern Baja California Norte, Mexico. Morphologically this annual species approaches the perennial E. elongatum, and poorly prepared specimens sometimes are difficult to differentiate. A clear distinction between E. roseum and E. gracile appears to be consistently possible in the field, but some herbarium material can be difficult to assign. By and large, E. roseum is more robust and less branched than the decidedly more slender and graceful E. gracile.

Seeds of Eriogonum roseum were pounded into a powder and either mixed with water and used as a beverage or eaten raw by the Kawaiisu people (M. L. Zigmond 1981).

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

Of conservation concern.

Eriogonum crocatum is known only from the Conejo Grade area of the Santa Monica Mountains in Ventura County. A population in the Malibu Hills of Los Angeles County sampled by M. E. Jones (26 Apr 1926, DS, POM) has not been rediscovered. The species is rare, and the state of California considers it worthy of protection. Federal action has been long delayed. The species is widely cultivated and is one of the more popular wild buckwheats in the garden. Great care should be taken to prevent its escape from cultivation.

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

Source FNA vol. 5, p. 423. FNA vol. 5, p. 325.
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. 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. 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. 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
Synonyms E. vimineum subsp. virgatum, E. virgatum E. saxatile var. crocatum
Name authority Durand & Hilgard: J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, n. s. 3: 45. (1855) Davidson: Bull. S. Calif. Acad. Sci. 23: 17, plate E. (1924)
Web links