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POLYGONACEAE

BUCKWHEAT FAMILY

James C. Hickman

Annual to trees, some dioecious
Stem: nodes often swollen
Leaves simple, basal or cauline, alternate, opposite, or whorled, generally entire; stipules 0 or obvious and fused into a generally scarious sheath around stem
Inflorescence: small cluster, axillary or arrayed in cymes or panicles; involucres sometimes subtending 1–many flowers
Flower generally bisexual, small, ± radial; perianth generally 5–6-lobed, base ± tapered, often jointed to pedicel; stamens 2–9, often in 2 whorls; ovary superior, styles generally 3, generally fused at base
Fruit: achene, generally enclosed by persistent perianth, generally 3-angled, ovoid, and glabrous
Genera in family: 50 genera, 1100 species: worldwide, especially n temp; some cultivated for food (Fagopyrum ; Rheum , rhubarb; Rumex , sorrel) or ornamental (Antigonon , coral-vine; Muehlenbeckia ; Polygonum )
Reference: [Ronse Decraene & Akeroyd 1988 Bot J Linn Soc 98:321–371; Reveal et al. 1989 Phytologia 66(2–4):83–414]
Treatments of the 15 eriogonoid genera are based on the monographic work of James L. Reveal, who is gratefully acknowledged.

ERIOGONUM

WILD BUCKWHEAT

Annual to shrub
Leaves generally ± basal (clustered on low stems or cauline), petioled, generally ± tomentose below (often shedding above); stipule 0
Inflorescence openly cyme-like, umbel-like, or head-like, generally ± scapose; bracts (any whorled, leaf-like structures on inflorescence) 3–many per node, leaf-like to scale-like; involucres generally 1 per node, generally ± obconic, lobes (or short teeth) generally 3–10, generally erect; flowers generally many per involucre, pedicelled
Flower: perianth white, yellow, or red, lobes 6, generally ± oblong to obovate; stamens 9
Fruit brown to black, glabrous to hairy
Species in genus: ± 250 species: North America
Etymology: (Greek: woolly knees, from hairy nodes of some)
Reference: [Reveal 1989 Phytologia 66:295–414]
Largest dicot genus in CA; apparently currently differentiating; many taxa ± indistinct. Better habitat data needed. Many are excellent bee fodder
Horticultural information: Most are attractive and easy to grow with good drainage.

Native

E. ovalifolium Nutt.

[Group 4] Perennial 15–35 cm; mats 3–40 cm diam
Leaves ± basal on dense caudex; petiole long, slender; blade 2–60 mm, elliptic to ± round, tomentose to woolly
Inflorescence generally head-like, < 30 cm; bracts scale-like, ± hidden; involucres 1–15 per head, 2–6.5 mm, rigid, hairy, teeth 5
Flowers sometimes unisexual; perianth 2.5–7 mm, white to purple or yellow, glabrous, outer lobes obovate to round, inner narrower, generally notched, stalk-like base 0
Fruit 2–3 mm, glabrous
Chromosomes: n=20
Ecology: Common. Dry sand or gravel
Elevation: 1200–4100 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges, High Cascade Range, High Sierra Nevada, ne San Bernardino Mountains, Great Basin Floristic Province, Desert Mountains
Distribution outside California: to s Canada, Montana, Colorado, New Mexico
Varieties ± intergrade.

Native

var. purpureum (A. Nelson) Durand


Leaf: blade 5–20 mm, generally ± obovate, ± unmargined
Inflorescence: axis 4–20 cm; involucres 3–15 per cluster, 4–6.5 mm
Flower: perianth generally 4–6 mm, white to cream or purplish
Ecology: Common. Sand or gravel
Elevation: 1200–2800 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges, High Cascade Range, High Sierra Nevada (eastern slope), Great Basin Floristic Province
Distribution outside California: range of sp
Synonyms: var. ovalifolium misapplied
Horticultural information: TRY.

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