Eriogonum pyrolifolium Hook.
alpine buckwheat (Shasta buckwheat)
Polygonaceae (Buckwheat family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Jim Riley     (Photo ID #52458)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Eriogonum pyrolifolium
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SUBTAXA PRESENT IN BC

Eriogonum pyrolifolium var. coryphaeum

Species Information

General:
Perennial herb from a strong taproot, the crown simple to branched and woody, cushionlike, from withering, persistent leaf bases; stems ascending to erect, simple, several, 4-15 cm tall, white-woolly.
Leaves:
Basal leaves elliptic to egg-shaped, greenish-yellow on the upper surface, greyish- or reddish-woolly below, the blades 1.5-4 cm long, the stalks about as long as the blade; stem leaves lacking.
Flowers:
Inflorescence a head-like cluster of several involucres, subtended by 2 linear bracts 10-20 mm long; involucres somewhat head-like to plainly umbel-like, several-flowered, bell-shaped, 4-6 mm long, the teeth erect, up to 1 mm long; perianths white or greenish-white to pink or red, 4-5 mm long, narrowly bell-shaped, soft woolly-hairy, 6-lobed.
Fruits:
Achenes, hairy at the tips.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Habitat and Range

Dry scree slopes in the subalpine and alpine zones; rare in SC BC, known only from Cathedral Provincial Park; S to ID, MT and CA.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia