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Scientific Name | Eriogonum arcuatum var. xanthum (Eriogonum jamesii var. xanthum, Eriogonum flavum var. xanthum) | USDA PLANTS Symbol | ERFL4 |
Common Name | Ivy League Buckwheat | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 823877 |
Family | Polygonaceae (Buckwheat) | SEINet Reference |
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Description |
Life zones and habitat: Montane to alpine (9500 to 13500); sandy, gravelly soils, in grasslands, sagebrush meadow, rocky or talus slopes, conifer woodlands and tundra. Plant: Usually mat-forming, short perennial with stout hairy stems; up to 3 inches tall. Leaves: Basal, oblanceolate to elliptic leaves, 1/4 to 1-1/4 inches long and 1/4 to 5/8-inch wide; grayish lower surface covered with short, matted hairs (tomentose), greenish upper has tufts of woolly hairs (floccose). Inflorescence: Single clusters of tiny golden yellow flowers (not umbels) atop unbranched stems; each flower less than 1/4-inch across with densely hairy tepals; protruding stamens. Bloom Period: July to September. References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield and Flora of North America. |
BONAP Distribution Map![]() |
Colorado Status: Native |
Scientific Name | Eriogonum umbellatum var. umbellatum | USDA PLANTS Symbol | ERUMU2 |
Common Name | Sulfur-flower Buckwheat | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 195595 |
Family | Polygonaceae (Buckwheat) | SEINet Reference |
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Description |
Life zones and habitat: Foothills to subalpine (5500 to 10000 ft); dry slopes, sagebush meadows, forests. Plant: Mat-forming perennial with erect stems up to to 10 inches tall; stems hairy and leafless. Leaves: Basal elliptic to ovate leaves; lower surface grayish, densely covered with fine hairs; upper surfaces green, smooth or slightly hairy; 3/8 to 1 inch long and up to 5/8-inch wide. Inflorescence: Clusters of tiny, sometimes red-tinted, buds becoming bright yellow flowers, each less than 1/4-inch across, forming large umbels with a single whorl of green, leafy bracts just below. Bloom Period: June to October. References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, www.swcoloradowildflowers.com and Flora of North America. |
BONAP Distribution Map![]() |
Colorado Status: Native |
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