Eriogonum umbellatum var. ramulosum
Phytologia 86: 153. 2004.
Herbs, often rather compact mats, 1–3.5 × 2–4 dm. Aerial flowering stems erect, 1–3 dm, floccose, without one or more leaflike bracts ca. midlength. Leaves in loose rosettes; blade usually broadly elliptic to oval, 1–2.5 × 0.5–1.5 cm, densely gray-tomentose abaxially, floccose and green adaxially, margins plane. Inflorescences compound-umbellate, branched 1–3 times; branches floccose, without a whorl of bracts ca. midlength; involucral tubes 2–3 mm, lobes 1.5–3 mm. Flowers 4–7 mm; perianth bright yellow.
Phenology: Flowering Jun–Sep.
Habitat: Sandy to gravelly slopes, sagebrush communities, montane conifer woodlands
Elevation: 1600-2700 m
Discussion
Variety ramulosum is encountered rarely, mainly along the Front Range of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. It is known only from Jefferson and Larimer counties. It is related to var. umbellatum, consistently differing in having a branched inflorescence.
Selected References
None.