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©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
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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. fasciculatum (Benth.) Torr. & A. Gray

CALIFORNIA BUCKWHEAT

[Group 4] Shrub 10–200 cm, 50–300 cm diam
Leaves cauline, clustered at nodes; blade 6–18 mm, linear to oblanceolate, leathery, ± rolled under, ± white-tomentose below
Inflorescence: head or umbel of heads, generally ± canescent; lowest bracts leaf-like, upper scale-like; involucres generally several per head, 2.5–4 mm, angled, teeth 5
Flower: perianth 2.5–3 mm, white to pinkish, stalk-like base 0
Fruit 1.8–2.5 mm, glabrous
Ecology: Common. Dry slopes, washes, canyons in scrub
Elevation: < 2300 m.
Bioregional distribution: s Sierra Nevada, Central Western California, Southwestern California, East of Sierra Nevada, Desert
Distribution outside California: to Utah, Arizona, nw Mexico

Native

var. flavoviride Munz & I.M. Johnst.

Plant ± rounded
Leaf linear, tightly rolled under, light (or yellow-)green, glabrous above
Inflorescence: involucre 2–3 mm, generally glabrous
Flower: perianth generally hairy inside
Chromosomes: n=20
Ecology: Dry slopes, washes
Elevation: 200–1300 m.
Bioregional distribution: Desert
Distribution outside California: Baja California
Flowering time: Mar–May
Horticultural information: TRY.

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