Page author: David Giblin
Eriogonum pyrolifolium
alpine buckwheat, oarleaf buckwheat, Shasta wild buckwheat
Specimens
Photos

Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Idaho and Montana.

Habitat: Open, often rocky areas, from middle elevations to the alpine in the mountains.

Flowers: July-September

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bumblebees, bees, flies, butterflies, beetles, wasps

Description:
General:

Sub-alpine perennial with a woody base covered with dead leaves, with several leafless stems to 15 cm. tall.

Leaves:

Basal and numerous, the blades elliptic to rhombic to ovate, yellowish-green, grayish on the under side, 1.5-4 cm. long by up to 2 cm. broad, on petioles about the same length.

Flowers:

Inflorescence subtended by two narrow bracts 10-20 mm. long; involucres usually 3, narrowly cup shaped, 4-6 mm. long with a short stipe and broad, erect teeth 1 mm. long; tepals white or greenish-white to pink or red, 4-5 mm. long, narrowly cup shaped; anthers purple.

Identification Notes:

Two (no more, no less) long, narrow bracts just below the inflorescence are found only on this species.

Accepted Name:
Eriogonum pyrolifolium Hook.
Publication: Hooker's J. Bot. Kew Gard. Misc. 5: 395, plate 10. (as pyrolaefolium). 1853.

Synonyms & Misapplications:
Eriogonum pyrolifolium Hook. var. bellingeranum M. Peck
Eriogonum pyrolifolium Hook. var. coryphaeum Torr. & A. Gray [FNA5, HC]
Eriogonum pyrolifolium Hook. var. pyrolifolium [FNA5, HC]
Additional Resources:

PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Eriogonum pyrolifolium in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database.

WA Flora Checklist: Eriogonum pyrolifolium checklist entry.

OregonFlora: Eriogonum pyrolifolium information.

E-Flora BC: Eriogonum pyrolifolium atlas page.

CalPhotos: Eriogonum pyrolifolium photos.

USDA Plants: Eriogonum pyrolifolium information.

50 photographs:
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