Eriogonum suffruticosum

Subshrubs, spreading, not scapose, 1–2 × 2–4(–5) dm, thinly tomentose. Stems spreading, without persistent leaf bases, up to 1/4 height of plant; caudex stems absent; aerial flowering stems erect, slender, solid, not fistulose, 0.1–0.3 dm, thinly tomentose. Leaves cauline, 1 per node or fasciculate; petiole 0.1–0.2 cm; blade narrowly elliptic, 0.5–0.8 × 0.1–0.25 cm, densely white-tomentose abaxially, silky-tomentose adaxially, margins revolute. Inflorescences cymose, 0.5–1 × 0.5–1.5 cm; branches dichotomous, thinly tomentose; bracts 3, scalelike, narrowly elliptic, 1–3 mm. Peduncles slender, erect, 0.3–0.5 cm, thinly tomentose. Involucres 1 per node, campanulate, 2–3 × 2.5–3.5(–4) mm, thinly tomentose; lobes 6, reflexed, 1–1.5 mm. Flowers 3.5–6 mm; perianth white to yellowish white, with large reddish to maroon spots, glabrous; tepals connate proximally, dimorphic, those of the outer whorl fan-shaped, 2–4 × 2–4 mm, those of inner whorl oblanceolate, 3.5–6 × 1–2.5 mm; stamens slightly exserted, 2–3 mm; filaments pilose proximally. Achenes light brown, 3–3.5 mm, glabrous.

Phenology: Flowering Apr–May.
Habitat: Rocky limestone slopes and outcrops, creosote bush communities
Elevation: 900-1400 m

Tex.

Discussion

Of conservation concern.

Eriogonum suffruticosum is a rare, localized species, known only from 13 scattered locations in Brewster and Presidio counties of western Texas. Its relationship to other species in the genus is obscure.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa