Eriogonum lachnogynum
in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 14: 8. 1856.
Herbs, erect or matted, sometimes scapose, 1–3.5 × 1–2 dm or 0.05–0.2 × 0.5–3.5 dm, floccose or silky-tomentose, grayish. Stems spreading or matted, occasionally with persistent leaf bases, up to 1/4 or more height of plant; caudex stems matted; aerial flowering stems erect or nearly so, slender, solid, not fistulose, 1–2 dm and floccose, or (0.1–)0.02–0.5(–0.65) dm and silky-tomentose. Leaves basal, 1 per node or fasciculate in terminal tufts; petiole 0.1–2.5(–3) cm, tomentose to floccose; blade lanceolate or oblanceolate to narrowly elliptic, 1–2.5(–3) × 0.3–0.5(–0.8) cm, or 0.4–1.2 × 0.1–0.3(–0.35) cm, densely white- or silvery-tomentose on both surfaces, margins plane. Inflorescences capitate, subcapitate, umbellate-cymose, or cymose, 2–20 × 2–20 cm, floccose or, if matted, 0.3–1 × 0.3–1 cm; branches open and divided 1–3 times, 2–20 cm, floccose or if matted, (0–)0.3–0.85 cm, silky-tomentose; bracts 3, scalelike, triangular, (0.5–)1–3 mm. Peduncles absent or erect, slender, 2–15 mm, floccose. Involucres 1 per node or 2–5 per cluster, broadly campanulate, 1.5–4 × (2–)3–6(–8) mm, tomentose; teeth 5, erect to spreading, 1–1.5 mm. Flowers 2.5–5(–6) mm; perianth yellow, densely white-pubescent; tepals connate proximal 1/3, monomorphic, lanceolate to broadly lanceolate; stamens exserted, 3.5–5 mm; filaments glabrous. Achenes brown to dark brown, 3–4 mm, villous to tomentose.
Distribution
Ariz., Colo., Kans., N.Mex., Okla., Tex.
Discussion
Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).
The Navajo or Diné people consider Eriogonum lachnogynum to be a “life medicine,” making a concoction of shredded roots for the treatment of internal, and some external, ailments. It is often given for diarrhea.
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
Key
| 1 | Plants erect; inflorescences subcapitate, umbellate-cymose, or cymose; flowering stems 1-2 dm at full anthesis; leaf blades 1-2.5(-3) × 0.3-0.5(-0.8) cm; widespread, not in Arizona | Eriogonum lachnogynum var. lachnogynum |
| 1 | Plants cespitose mats; inflorescences capitate; flowering stems 0.01-0.65 dm at full anthesis; leaf blades 0.4-1.2 × 0.1-0.35 cm; Arizona, New Mexico | > 2 |
| 2 | Flowering stems 0.1-0.5(-0.65) dm, longer than leaves | Eriogonum lachnogynum var. sarahiae |
| 2 | Flowering stems (0.01-)0.02-0.05(-0.12) dm, shorter than or just exceeding leaves | Eriogonum lachnogynum var. colobum |