Eriogonum pyrolifolium

Eriogonum pyrolifolium (Shasta buckwheat, pyrola-leafed buckwheat, alpine buckwheat,[1] alpine eriogonum, oarleaf buckwheat, or dirty socks[2]) is a species of wild buckwheat. It is native to western North America, from British Columbia to the high mountains of California.

Eriogonum pyrolifolium
Eriogonum pyrolifolium (Wenatchee Mountains)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Polygonaceae
Genus: Eriogonum
Species:
E. pyrolifolium
Binomial name
Eriogonum pyrolifolium

Description

This is a small woody perennial reaching a maximum height and width of about 20 centimeters, including its inflorescence. Its rounded or spade-shaped, woolly (sometimes glabrous), petioled leaves are located at the base of the plant; their resemblance to the leaves of wintergreens (genus Pyrola) gives the species its name. The wool on the leaves and petioles sometimes has a pronounced orange color. Clusters of flowers appear on stalks which may be erect or bend to the ground. The small hairy flowers are greenish-white or white to pink.[1] At certain times during growth and blossoming this plant will emit an odor similar to sweaty, unwashed socks.[2][3]

Habitat

Eriogonum pyrolifolium often grows on nearly barren dry rocky soil in sub-alpine and alpine locations, including extensive pumice and tephra slopes on Mount Rainier and other Cascade range volcanoes.

  • Only plant locally on gravel, Mount Rainier
    Only plant locally on gravel, Mount Rainier
  • Orange wooly form
    Orange wooly form
  • Dark pink flower form
    Dark pink flower form

References
  1. Pojar, Jim; Andy MacKinnon (1994). Plants of the Pacific Northwest. Lone Pine Publishing. p. 128. ISBN 1-55105-042-0.
  2. Stewart, Charles (May 2010). Wildflowers of the Olympics and Cascades. Nature Education Enterprises. p. 70. ISBN 978-0-9621104-2-9.
  3. "Flora of North America: Eriogonum pyrolifolium".


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