Eriogonum baileyi var. praebens
Bailey's woolly buckwheat, Bailey's Woolly Buckwheat
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Eriogonum baileyi var. praebens (Bailey's woolly buckwheat) is a native California herb in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by tomentose inflorescence branches vs. glabrous var. baileyi, Great Basin distribution.
Bailey's woolly buckwheat is a California native annual found in the Great Basin region on sandy habitats at elevations of 1,300 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from June to October, this plant produces small white to cream-colored flowers in densely tomentose (woolly) inflorescences. Growing with delicate branching stems that spread low across the sandy ground, it forms compact clusters close to the earth. Its leaves are small and densely covered with woolly white hairs, giving the entire plant a soft, grayish appearance. The fruit is a tiny, inconspicuous nutlet typical of the buckwheat family.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 72 species; distinguished by tomentose inflorescence branches vs. glabrous var. baileyi, Great Basin distribution
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sand
Elevation: 1300-2500 m
California counties: Inyo, Los Angeles, Plumas, Lassen, Mono, Sierra
Outside California: to central Idaho, Nevada
Bloom period
Eriogonum baileyi var. praebens blooms Jun-Oct.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
How to tell it apart
vs Adenostoma: Eriogonum has flowers in cup-like involucres; Adenostoma has tiny white rose-family flowers in spikes.; vs Salvia: Eriogonum has six similar perianth parts; Salvia has two-lipped tubular flowers.; vs Fagopyrum: Eriogonum has flowers in involucred clusters; Fagopyrum has loose branching sprays without involucres.; vs Artemisia: Eriogonum has cup-surrounded flower clusters; Artemisia has tiny inconspicuous heads in drooping sprays.; vs Chorizanthe: Eriogonum has multiple flowers per involucre; Chorizanthe has one flower per involucre with spiny teeth.
Frequently asked questions
Is Eriogonum baileyi var. praebens native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum baileyi var. praebens is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum baileyi var. praebens bloom?
Eriogonum baileyi var. praebens blooms Jun-Oct.
Where in California does Eriogonum baileyi var. praebens grow?
Eriogonum baileyi var. praebens occurs in Inyo, Los Angeles, Plumas, Lassen, Mono, Sierra, at elevations of 1300-2500 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum baileyi var. praebens belong to?
Eriogonum baileyi var. praebens is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
Is Eriogonum baileyi var. praebens rare or endangered?
Eriogonum baileyi var. praebens carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S4.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.