Eriogonum spathulatum

A. Gray

Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 10: 76. 1874.

Common names: Spoon-leaf wild buckwheat
Endemic
Synonyms: Eriogonum nudicaule subsp. ochroflorum S. Stokes Eriogonum spathulatum var. kayeae S. L. Welsh
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 5. Treatment on page 271. Mentioned on page 235, 236, 264, 272.

Herbs, spreading, not scapose, 1.5–4 × 1–3 dm, tomentose or, rarely, glabrous, grayish. Stems spreading, without persistent leaf bases, up to 1/4 height of plant; caudex stems absent; aerial flowering stems erect, slender, solid, not fistulose, 1–2 dm, tomentose or rarely glabrous. Leaves sheathing up stem 1–8 cm, 1 per node; petiole 0.5–1.5 cm, tomentose; blade lanceolate to narrowly elliptic or narrowly spatulate, 1–4(–6) × 0.3–1 cm, tomentose on both surfaces, margins plane, rarely crenulate or revolute. Inflorescences cymose, 3–10 × 3–10 cm; branches dichotomous, tomentose or rarely glabrous; bracts 3, narrowly triangular, scalelike, 1–3 mm. Peduncles absent. Involucres (1–)3–6 per cluster, turbinate-campanulate, 2–3(–3.5) × 2–2.5(–3) mm, tomentose, rarely glabrous; teeth 5, erect, 0.5–0.8 mm. Flowers 2.5–3 mm; perianth ochroleucous or pale yellow, glabrous; tepals connate proximal 1/4, monomorphic, oblong; stamens exserted, 2.5–4 mm; filaments pilose proximally. Achenes brown, 3–3.5 mm, glabrous.


Phenology: Flowering Jul–Oct.
Habitat: Clay flats, limestone slopes, or gypsum outcrops, saltbush, sagebrush, and mountain mahogany communities, pinyon-juniper and conifer woodlands
Elevation: 1400-2200(-2600) m

Discussion

Eriogonum spathulatum is fairly common in west-central Utah. The typical expression, tomentose plants with ochroleucous flowers, occurs mainly in Iron, southern Juab, Millard, Piute, Sanpete, and Sevier counties. Plants with pale yellow to yellow perianths are seen infrequently in a few populations; these are always intermixed with plants bearing non-yellow perianths. Mixed populations of plants with either tomentose or glabrous flowering stems and inflorescence branches occur on gravelly limestone ridges in Beaver County; those with glabrous flowering stems and inflorescence branches have been separated recently as var. kayeae. In aspect, these approach Eriogonum artificis, a plant of sandy volcanic soils.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Eriogonum spathulatum"
James L. Reveal +
A. Gray +
Undefined subg. Eucycla +
Spoon-leaf wild buckwheat +
1400-2200(-2600) m +
Clay flats, limestone slopes, or gypsum outcrops, saltbush, sagebrush, and mountain mahogany communities, pinyon-juniper and conifer woodlands +
Flowering Jul–Oct. +
Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts +
Eriogonum nudicaule subsp. ochroflorum +  and Eriogonum spathulatum var. kayeae +
Eriogonum spathulatum +
Eriogonum subg. Eucycla +
species +