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 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Polygonaceae |
| Genus: | Eriogonum |
| Species: | E. pyrolifolium
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| Binomial name | |
| Eriogonum pyrolifolium | |
Description
editThis 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
editEriogonum 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.
Gallery
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Only plant locally on gravel, Mount Rainier -
Orange wooly form -
Dark pink flower form
References
edit- ^ a b Pojar, Jim; Andy MacKinnon (1994). Plants of the Pacific Northwest. Lone Pine Publishing. p. 128. ISBN 1-55105-042-0.
- ^ a b Stewart, Charles (May 2010). Wildflowers of the Olympics and Cascades. Nature Education Enterprises. p. 70. ISBN 978-0-9621104-2-9.
- ^ "Flora of North America: Eriogonum pyrolifolium".
External links
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Media related to Eriogonum pyrolifolium at Wikimedia Commons- CalFlora Database: Eriogonum pyrolifolium (Shasta buckwheat)
- Jepson eFlora (TJM2) treatment for Eriogonum pyrolifolium
- UC CalPhotos gallery for Eriogonum pyrolifolium
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