Eriogonum umbellatum var. speciosum
Eriogonum, 112. 1936.
Shrubs, spreading to rounded, 5–15(–20) × 5–20 dm. Aerial flowering stems erect, 1.5–3 dm, mostly tomentose, without one or more leaflike bracts ca. midlength. Leaves in loose rosettes; blade elliptic to ovate, 1–3 × 0.5–2.5 cm, densely gray-lanate to tomentose abaxially, floccose or glabrous and green adaxially, margins plane. Inflorescences compound-umbellate, branched 2–4 times; branches tomentose, without a whorl of bracts ca. midlength; involucral tubes 4–6 mm, lobes 3–5 mm. Flowers 7–10(–12) mm; perianth bright yellow.
Phenology: Flowering Jun–Sep.
Habitat: Serpentine flats and slopes, oak and conifer woodlands
Elevation: 100-800 m
Discussion
Variety speciosum is known only from a few scattered locations in Humboldt and Trinity counties. These large and showy shrubs are worthy of cultivation. In early-flowering material, the flowers can be shorter than noted above.
The name var. speciosum has been widely misapplied to var. dumosum, var. polyanthum, and especially var. ahartii.
Selected References
None.