Eriogonum sphaerocephalum
Encyclopedia
Eriogonum sphaerocephalum is a species of wild buckwheat
known by the common name rock buckwheat. It is native to the western United States from northeastern California
to Idaho
, where it is a common member of several habitat types, such as sagebrush
.
or subshrub up to half a meter tall and wide, growing from a caudex
and producing erect flowering stems. The woolly leaves are widely lance-shaped to somewhat oval and 1 to 4 centimeters long, and form basal rosettes around the caudex.
The inflorescence
arises on a stalk and bears many yellow flowers in a head-like cluster or umbel
.
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 rock buckwheat. It is native to the western United States from northeastern 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 Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, where it is a common member of several habitat types, such as sagebrush
Sagebrush
Sagebrush is a common name of a number of shrubby plant species in the genus Artemisia native to western North America;Or, the sagebrush steppe ecoregion, having one or more kinds of sagebrush, bunchgrasses and others;...
.
Description
This is a small shrubShrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
or subshrub up to half a meter tall and wide, growing from a caudex
Caudex
A caudex is a form of stem morphology appearing as a thickened, short, perennial stem that is either underground or near ground level . It may be swollen for the purpose of water storage, especially in xerophytes...
and producing erect flowering stems. The woolly leaves are widely lance-shaped to somewhat oval and 1 to 4 centimeters long, and form basal rosettes around the caudex.
The 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...
arises on a stalk and bears many yellow flowers in a head-like cluster or umbel
Umbel
An umbel is an inflorescence which consists of a number of short flower stalks which are equal in length and spread from a common point, somewhat like umbrella ribs....
.
Varieties
There are several varieties of this species:- E. s. var. fasciculifolium is endemic to Idaho.
- E. s. var. halimioides is a widespread variety with very pale yellow flowers.
- E. s. var. sphaerocephalum has bright yellow flowers.