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Eriogonum ovalifolium Polygonaceae (Buckwheat Family) Semi-desert, foothills. Woodlands,
openings. Spring. These handsome white, one inch puff-balls are often tinged with pink or lavender -- especially as they age -- and they can form mounds a foot or more across. The one-third inch, oval, sage green leaves grow vertically and are easily recognized even when the flowers are not present. Altogether this is an unusual and easily remembered plant. The 2005 Flora of North America, v. 5, recognizes eleven varieties of Eriogonum ovalifolium; three of them occur in at least one of the Four Corners states. The FNA indicates that "E. ovalifolium is a highly diverse and widespread complex of generally distinct but sometimes intergrading varieties". E. ovalifolium occurs in all of the Four Corners states. Thomas Nuttall named this plant in 1834. "Ovalifolium" refers to the leaf shape. |
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Eriogonum ovalifolium Polygonaceae (Buckwheat Family) Semi-desert, foothills. Woodlands,
openings. Spring. |
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Eriogonum ovalifolium Polygonaceae (Buckwheat Family) Semi-desert, foothills. Woodlands,
openings. Spring. Even in bud, this plant is very attractive. |
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Eriogonum racemosum (Wild Buckwheat) Polygonaceae (Buckwheat Family) Foothills, montane,
subalpine. Openings. Summer. Wild Buckwheat is common in low foothill and mountain dry meadows and sometimes numbers in the hundreds or thousands giving a white caste to the meadows. The long-lasting white or white/pink flowers are in long spikes atop a long-necked, leafless stem. The plant’s light green, basal, elliptical, nearly vertical leaves are commonly found without a flower stalk. The Flora of North America notes that although Eriogonum racemosum is "highly variable" in a number of characteristics ("stature, the presence of... bracts..., the size and shape of the leaves, and the length of the mature flowers"), none of these variable features is related to any geographical area and thus all of the plants are considered the same species. Eriogonum racemosum occurs in all of the Four Corners states. Thomas Nuttall named this species in 1848. "Racemosum" is from the Latin for "cluster" and is common botanical nomenclature for this flower arrangement, a "raceme". |
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Eriogonum racemosum (Wild Buckwheat) Polygonaceae (Buckwheat Family) Foothills, montane,
subalpine. Openings. Summer. |
Range map © John Kartesz,
County Color Key
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Range map for Eriogonum ovalifolium
Range map for Eriogonum racemosum |
Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state
Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Eradicated
Questionable presence
