Eriogonum helichrysoides

Shrubs, spreading, not scapose, 1.5–3(–4) × 3–8 dm, floccose and dark green. Stems spreading, often without persistent leaf bases, up to 1/3 height of plant; caudex stems absent; aerial flowering stems erect to slightly spreading, slender, solid, not fistulose, 0.02–0.04 dm, floccose. Leaves cauline, 1 per node; petiole 0.2–0.7 cm, floccose; blade linear to linear-oblanceolate, (2–)3–6 × 0.1–0.3 cm, densely tomentose abaxially, floccose and green adaxially, margins revolute. Inflorescences cymose, compact, 0.5–1.3(–1.6) dm; branches dichotomous, floccose to nearly glabrous; bracts 3, scalelike, triangular, 0.5–2 mm. Peduncles absent or erect, 0.5–2.5 cm, floccose. Involucres 1 per node, turbinate, 2.5–3 × 1–2 mm, floccose or glabrous; teeth 5, erect, 0.3–0.6 mm. Flowers 2–2.5(–3) mm; perianth white, becoming rose, glabrous; tepals connate proximal 1/4, essentially monomorphic, elliptic to obovate; stamens exserted, 2.5–4.5 mm; filaments sparsely pilose. Achenes brown, 2–2.5 mm, glabrous.

Phenology: Flowering Jul–Sep.
Habitat: Clay slopes or chalky limestone outcrops, mixed grassland communities
Elevation: 900-1100 m

Distribution

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• Legacy Map

Kans.

Discussion

Eriogonum helichrysoides is limited to west-central Kansas (Ellis, Gove, Lane, Logan, Scott, and Trego counties). The plants’ dark green color and narrow leaf blades readily segregate the species from E. effusum.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.