E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

Eriogonum umbellatum var. majus Torr.
sulphur buckwheat
Polygonaceae (Buckwheat family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

© Ian Cumming  Email the photographer   (Photo ID #5092)

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Distribution of Eriogonum umbellatum var. majus
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Species Information

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General:
Perennial herb from a strong taproot and freely branched crown, forming loose flat mats up to 60 cm wide; stems prostrate to ascending, simple, several, 10-30 cm tall/long, usually white-woolly.
Leaves:
Basal leaves elliptic to spoon-shaped, grey- to white woolly-hairy on the lower surface, greenish on the upper, the blades 1-3 (4) cm long, narrowed gradually to the stalks; stem leaves lacking.
Flowers:
Inflorescence a large, simple or compound umbel, subtended by a whorl of leaflike bracts; involucres bell-shaped, hairy, 4-6 mm long, the 6-12 lobes 2-3 mm long, often reflexed; perianths creamy or pale to deep yellow, often tinged with rose or purple, smooth, 6-l0 lobed; flowers usually imperfect.
Fruits:
Achenes, smooth.
Notes:
Two closely related varieties occur in BC:

1. Perianth white to cream or pale yellow................. var. subalpinum (Greene) M. E. Jones

1. Perianth bright yellow...................... var. umbellatum

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Habitat / Range

Dry grasslands, shrublands, forest openings, rock outcrops and scree slopes in the steppe to alpine zones; frequent in SC and SE BC; S to CO, UT and OR.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms and Alternate Names

Eriogonum umbellatum Torr.

Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Links

Additional Photo Sources

General References