Eriogonum ovalifolium var. nivale Nutt. (Canby) M.E. Jones
cushion buckwheat
Polygonaceae (Buckwheat family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Jim Riley     (Photo ID #12816)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Eriogonum ovalifolium var. nivale
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend

Species Information

General:
Perennial herb from a short, branched stem-base, forming mats up to 40 cm wide; stems erect, simple, several, 1-10 cm tall, white-woolly.
Leaves:
Basal leaves roundish, densely white-hairy to silvery on both surfaces, 5-15 mm long, including the stalks; stem leaves lacking.
Flowers:
Inflorescence a head-like cluster of involucres, 1-3.5 cm wide, subtended by 3 or more linear-lanceolate bracts; involucres bell-shaped, 2.5-5 mm long with 5 short teeth; perianths cream or creamy yellow, often pinkish- or purplish-tinged (at least with age) to yellow, (2.5) 3-4 (5) mm long, the outer segments wider than the inner ones; flowers commonly imperfect.
Fruits:
Achenes.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Eriogonum ovalifolium var. nivale

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
Value / Class

Avg

Min

Max

Elevation (metres)
1935 1935 1935
Slope Gradient (%)

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

0
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
0 0 0
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
B
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
1
Modal BEC Zone Class
ESSF

All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in

ESSF(1)

Habitat and Range

Dry meadows and rocky slopes from the montane to the alpine zones; locally frequent in SC and SE BC; E to AB and S to NM and CA.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Eriogonum nivale Canby
Eriogonum rhodanthum A. Nels. & Kennedy