familyPolygonaceae
subfamilyPolygonaceae subfam. Eriogonoideae
genusEriogonum
subgenusEriogonum subg. Eucycla
speciesEriogonum brevicaule
Eriogonum brevicaule var. caelitum
Phytologia 86: 123. 2004.
Common names: Wasatch Plateau wild buckwheat
Plants cespitose, 0.6–1.8(–2) × 1–2.5 dm. Aerial flowering stems erect or nearly so, scapelike, 0.5–1.5 dm, densely floccose to tomentose. Leaves: blade linear to linear-oblanceolate, 0.2–4.5(–5) × (0.2–)0.3–0.6(–0.7) cm, tomentose abaxially, thinly floccose and bright green adaxially, margins plane or slightly thickened. Inflorescences capitate, 1–2 cm; branches absent. Involucres 3–7 per cluster, turbinate to turbinate-campanulate, 2–3.5(–4) × 2–3(–3.5) mm, floccose to tomentose. Flowers 2.5–3.5(–4) mm; perianth yellow, glabrous.
Phenology: Flowering Jul–Sep.
Habitat: Gravelly to rocky, mostly limestone soil, high-elevation sagebrush communities, subalpine conifer woodlands
Elevation: 2700-3700 m
Discussion
Variety caelitum is restricted to the limestone Flagstaff Formation on the high mesa tops of the Wasatch Mountains in Sanpete and northern Sevier counties.
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
None.