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Shockley's buckwheat, Shockley's wild buckwheat

woolly-cup wild buckwheat, woollycup buckwheat

Habit Herbs, matted, scapose, 0.3–0.5(–0.7) × (0.5–)1–4(–20) dm, floccose to tomentose, greenish or grayish. Herbs, erect or matted, sometimes scapose, 1–3.5 × 1–2 dm or 0.05–0.2 × 0.5–3.5 dm, floccose or silky-tomentose, grayish.
Stems

matted, sometimes only seemingly so, with persistent leaf bases, up to 1/5 height of plant;

caudex stems matted;

aerial flowering stems absent or scapelike, erect or nearly so, slender, solid, not fistulose, (0.05–)0.1–0.3 dm, floccose to tomentose.

spreading or matted, occasionally with persistent leaf bases, up to 1/4 or more height of plant;

caudex stems matted;

aerial flowering stems erect or nearly so, slender, solid, not fistulose, 1–2 dm and floccose, or (0.1–)0.02–0.5(–0.65) dm and silky-tomentose.

Leaves

basal, fasciculate in terminal tufts;

petiole 0.2–0.5 cm, tomentose to floccose;

blade oblanceolate to elliptic or spatulate, (0.2–)0.3–0.8(–1.2) × 0.2–0.4(–0.6) cm, tomentose to floccose, margins plane or slightly thickened.

basal, 1 per node or fasciculate in terminal tufts;

petiole 0.1–2.5(–3) cm, tomentose to floccose;

blade lanceolate or oblanceolate to narrowly elliptic, 1–2.5(–3) × 0.3–0.5(–0.8) cm, or 0.4–1.2 × 0.1–0.3(–0.35) cm, densely white- or silvery-tomentose on both surfaces, margins plane.

Inflorescences

capitate, 0.8–2 cm;

branches absent;

bracts 3–5, scalelike, linear to linear-lanceolate, 1.5–4 × 0.6–1 mm.

capitate, subcapitate, umbellate-cymose, or cymose, 2–20 × 2–20 cm, floccose or, if matted, 0.3–1 × 0.3–1 cm;

branches open and divided 1–3 times, 2–20 cm, floccose or if matted, (0–)0.3–0.85 cm, silky-tomentose;

bracts 3, scalelike, triangular, (0.5–)1–3 mm.

Peduncles

absent.

absent or erect, slender, 2–15 mm, floccose.

Involucres

2–4(–6) per cluster, campanulate, (2–)2.5–5(–6) × 3–6(–7) mm, rigid, tomentose;

teeth 5–10, erect to spreading, (0.5–)1–3 mm.

1 per node or 2–5 per cluster, broadly campanulate, 1.5–4 × (2–)3–6(–8) mm, tomentose;

teeth 5, erect to spreading, 1–1.5 mm.

Flowers

2.5–4 mm;

perianth white to rose or yellow, densely pilose;

tepals connate proximally, monomorphic, oblong to obovate;

stamens exserted, 2.5–5 mm;

filaments subglabrous or sparsely pilose proximally.

2.5–5(–6) mm;

perianth yellow, densely white-pubescent;

tepals connate proximal 1/3, monomorphic, lanceolate to broadly lanceolate;

stamens exserted, 3.5–5 mm;

filaments glabrous.

Achenes

light brown to brown, 2.5–3 mm, tomentose.

brown to dark brown, 3–4 mm, villous to tomentose.

Eriogonum shockleyi

Eriogonum lachnogynum

Phenology Flowering May–Aug.
Habitat Gravelly or clayey (rarely sandy) flats, washes, and slopes, saltbush, blackbrush, and sagebrush communities, pinyon-juniper woodlands
Elevation (800-)1200-2600 m ((2600-)3900-8500 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CA; CO; ID; NM; NV; UT
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AZ; CO; KS; NM; OK; TX
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Eriogonum shockleyi is widely distributed in northern Arizona, east-central California, western Colorado, southern Idaho, northwestern New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah. On the Colorado Plateau, it has oblanceolate to spatulate leaf blades usually 0.3–1.2 × 0.3–0.6 cm, scapes 1–3 cm, involucres with long (2–3.5 mm) often spreading teeth, and flowers 3–4 mm. These plants have been distinguished as var. longilobum. The typical Great Basin expression has elliptic leaf blades 0.3–0.6 × 0.3–0.5 cm, scapes 0.5–2 cm, involucres with short (0.5–2 mm) erect teeth, and flowers 2.5–4 mm. Low, compact, hummock-like plants in southwestern Idaho with elliptic leaf blades 0.1–0.3(–0.35) × 0.1–0.15 cm, flowering stems absent or up to 0.5 cm, and involucres 2.5–3 mm with teeth 0.8–1 mm have been termed var. packardiae. These morphologic differences have been shown to be genetically insignificant, however (J. F. Smith and T. A. Bateman 2002). Plants on moving sand dunes at the southeast end of Baking Power Flat in Lincoln County, Nevada, can be up to 2 m across. Further studies may indicate that the various geographic expressions deserve taxonomic recognition.

The Great Basin expression is the food plant of the Bernardino dotted-blue butterfly (Euphilotes bernardino). Members of the species are occasionally found in cultivation.

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

Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).

The Navajo or Diné people consider Eriogonum lachnogynum to be a “life medicine,” making a concoction of shredded roots for the treatment of internal, and some external, ailments. It is often given for diarrhea.

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

Key
1. Plants erect; inflorescences subcapitate, umbellate-cymose, or cymose; flowering stems 1-2 dm at full anthesis; leaf blades 1-2.5(-3) × 0.3-0.5(-0.8) cm; widespread, not in Arizona
var. lachnogynum
1. Plants cespitose mats; inflorescences capitate; flowering stems 0.01-0.65 dm at full anthesis; leaf blades 0.4-1.2 × 0.1-0.35 cm; Arizona, New Mexico
→ 2
2. Flowering stems 0.1-0.5(-0.65) dm, longer than leaves
var. sarahiae
2. Flowering stems (0.01-)0.02-0.05(-0.12) dm, shorter than or just exceeding leaves
var. colobum
Source FNA vol. 5, p. 286. FNA vol. 5, p. 286.
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. 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. 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. 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. lachnogynum var. colobum, E. lachnogynum var. lachnogynum, E. lachnogynum var. sarahiae
Synonyms E. pulvinatum, E. shockleyi subsp. candidum, E. shockleyi subsp. longilobum, E. shockleyi var. longilobum, E. shockleyi var. packardiae, E. villiflorum var. candidum
Name authority S. Watson: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 18: 194. (1883) Torrey ex Bentham: in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 14: 8. (1856)
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