Eriogonum sphaerocephalum is a species of wild buckwheat known by the common names rock buckwheat and round-headed desert buckwheat. It is native to the western United States.
Habitat
Eriogonum sphaerocephalum can be found primarily east of the crest of the Cascade Range, in Washington and Oregon to Idaho and from southern Oregon and northern California to northern Nevada. It is a common member of desert, rocky and sagebrush steppe habitats. It is found over a wide range of elevations, but is most common between .
Description
The plant is a small shrub or subshrub up to tall and wide, growing from a caudex and producing erect flowering stems. Fresh blooms occur in early summer. The leaves are wooly (typically on the underside), widely lance-shaped to somewhat oval, and long, forming basal rosettes around the caudex and appearing at the end of branches.
The inflorescence arises on a stalk and bears many yellow flowers in a head-like cluster or umbel.
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.
References
External links
Photo gallery
sphaerocephalum
Flora of the Northwestern United States
Flora of California
Flora of Nevada
Flora of the Sierra Nevada (United States) Flora without expected TNC conservation status