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thyme buckwheat, thyme wild buckwheat, thyme-leaf buckwheat, thyme-leaf wild buckwheat

cushion buckwheat, cushion wild buckwheat, oval-leaf buckwheat, oval-leaf eriogonum

Habit Subshrubs, spreading, polygamodioecious, 0.5–2(–3) × 1–3(–4) dm, tomentose to sericeous. Herbs, forming pulvinate to cespitose maps, usually scapose, 0.2–3 × 0.5–5 dm, floccose to tomentose or lanate.
Stems

caudex spreading;

aerial flowering stems erect, slender, solid, not fistulose, arising at nodes of caudex branches and at distal nodes of short, nonflowering aerial branches, (0.1–)0.3–0.8(–1.2) dm, tomentose to sericeous, with a whorl of 6–10(–12), leaflike bracts ca. midlength, these similar to leaf blades, 0.3–0.8(–1) × 0.1–0.2 cm.

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

in compact basal rosettes, fasciculate, and sheathing up stems;

petiole 0.05–0.2 cm;

blade linear to narrowly spatulate, (0.2–)0.3–1(–1.5) × 0.1–0.2(–0.3) cm, densely white-tomentose abaxially, silky-villous or sericeous adaxially, margins entire, inrolled to tightly revolute.

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

capitate, 0.8–2 cm wide;

branches absent;

bracts absent immediately below involucre.

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

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

Peduncles

absent.

Involucres

1 per node, turbinate, 3–5 × 2.5–4 mm, villous to sericeous;

teeth 6–8, erect, 0.5–1 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

4–10 mm, including 0.5–1 mm stipelike base;

perianth white to pale yellow or yellow, becoming pink to rose, villous abaxially;

tepals monomorphic, obovate;

stamens included to slightly exserted, 2–4 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, 2–2.5 mm, glabrous except for densely pubescent beak.

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

Eriogonum thymoides

Eriogonum ovalifolium

Phenology Flowering Apr–Jul.
Habitat Sandy to gravelly, often volcanic flats, slopes, and outcrops, mixed grassland and sagebrush communities, montane conifer woodlands
Elevation (200-)600-1700 m ((700-)2000-5600 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
ID; OR; WA
[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 thymoides is an exquisite species concentrated in three regions of the Pacific Northwest. The first is along the eastern edge of the Cascade Range from near Wenatchee, Washington (Adams, Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln, and Yakima counties), to near the Dalles in extreme north-central Oregon (Union County). The second is from Baker and northern Malheur counties, Oregon, to Adams, Canyon, and Washington counties, Idaho. A third series of populations is in the Mount Bennett Hills area of Gooding County, Idaho, and just over the borders in Blaine, Camas, Elmore, and Lincoln counties. Staminate plants tend to have yellow flowers that quickly fade after pollen release. Pistillate plants tend to have white to pale yellow flowers that persist and greatly elongate as the achene matures.

(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. 360. FNA vol. 5, p. 319.
Parent taxa Polygonaceae > subfam. Eriogonoideae > Eriogonum > subg. Oligogonum 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. 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. 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. sphaerocephalum subsp. minimum, E. thymoides subsp. congestum Eucycla ovalifolia
Name authority Bentham: in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 14: 9. (1856) Nuttall: J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 7: 50, plate 8, fig. 1. (1834)
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