Eriogonum ovalifolium
Encyclopedia
Eriogonum ovalifolium is a species of wild buckwheat
known by the common name cushion buckwheat. It is native to western North America from California
to Alberta
, where it is a member of many plant communities in varied habitats. There are many varieties of this species but in general it is a tough perennial herb which forms mats in gravelly soil or amongst rocks and produces erect inflorescence
s up to 35 centimeters in height. The pale green to gray leaves at the base of the plant are rounded and woolly and have petioles
. The clumps of flowers are yellow, light red or pink, purple, or white.
There are four to eleven varieties of this species. One, var. vineum, the Cushenbury buckwheat, is endemic to the San Bernardino Mountains
of San Bernardino County, California
. It is federally listed as an endangered species
of the United States, and the main threat to its existence is mining
. Another variety, var. williamsiae, the steamboat buckwheat, is known only from the Steamboat Hills near Reno, Nevada
. It is also a federally listed endangered species, and threats to it have been reduced but the populations are still quite small.
Eriogonum
Eriogonum is the scientific name for a genus of flowering plants, in the family Polygonaceae. The genus is found in North America and is known as wild buckwheat. This is a highly species-rich genus, and indications are that active speciation is continuing...
known by the common name cushion buckwheat. It is native to western North America from California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, where it is a member of many plant communities in varied habitats. There are many varieties of this species but in general it is a tough perennial herb which forms mats in gravelly soil or amongst rocks and produces erect inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
s up to 35 centimeters in height. The pale green to gray leaves at the base of the plant are rounded and woolly and have petioles
Petiole (botany)
In botany, the petiole is the stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole are called stipules. Leaves lacking a petiole are called sessile, or clasping when they partly surround the...
. The clumps of flowers are yellow, light red or pink, purple, or white.
There are four to eleven varieties of this species. One, var. vineum, the Cushenbury buckwheat, is endemic to the San Bernardino Mountains
San Bernardino Mountains
The San Bernardino Mountains are a short transverse mountain range north and east of San Bernardino in Southern California in the United States. The mountains run for approximately 60 miles east-west on the southern edge of the Mojave Desert in southwestern San Bernardino County, north of the...
of San Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,035,210, up from 1,709,434 as of the 2000 census...
. It is federally listed as an endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
of the United States, and the main threat to its existence is mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
. Another variety, var. williamsiae, the steamboat buckwheat, is known only from the Steamboat Hills near Reno, Nevada
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
. It is also a federally listed endangered species, and threats to it have been reduced but the populations are still quite small.