Eriogonum ochrocephalum
in W. H. Brewer et al., Bot. California 2: 480. 1880.
Herbs, matted, scapose, 0.5–4.5(–5) × 0.5–3 dm, glabrous or glandular, grayish. Stems matted or spreading, occasionally with persistent leaf bases, up to 1/5 height of plant; caudex stems matted or absent; aerial flowering stems scapelike, erect, slender, solid, not fistulose, (0.5–)1.5–4.5(–5) dm, glabrous, rarely slightly floccose, or glandular below inflorescence. Leaves basal, fasciculate in terminal tufts, sometimes 1 per node and sheathing up stem 1–4 cm; petiole 1–4(–5) cm, tomentose; blade oblanceolate or lanceolate to elliptic, oblong, or ovate to obovate, (0.6–)1–3.5(–4) × (0.3–)0.5–1.5 cm, densely tomentose abaxially, only slightly less so adaxially, margins plane. Inflorescences capitate, 1.5–2.5 cm; branches absent; bracts 3, scalelike, narrowly triangular, 1–2.5 mm. Peduncles absent or erect, slender, 0.1–0.5(–0.6) cm, glabrous. Involucres 5–8 per cluster, turbinate to campanulate, 3.5–5.5(–6) × (1.5–)2–4.5(–5) mm, rigid, floccose at least on teeth, occasionally glandular, rarely glabrous; teeth 6–8, erect, 0.5–1 mm. Flowers 1.5–3 mm; perianth yellow, glabrous or weakly glandular abaxially; tepals connate proximally, monomorphic, broadly oblong; stamens exserted, 2.5–3.5(–4) mm; filaments pilose proximally. Achenes light brown, (1.5–)2–3 mm, glabrous.
Distribution
w United States.
Discussion
Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).
Variety ochrocephalum is occasionally seen in rock gardens, and var. calcareum is worthy of cultivation.
Selected References
None.
Key
| 1 | Scapes glandular at least proximal to inflorescence; ne California, nw Nevada | Eriogonum ochrocephalum var. ochrocephalum |
| 1 | Scapes glabrous or, rarely, slightly floccose; sw Idaho, se Oregon, wc Nevada | Eriogonum ochrocephalum var. calcareum |