Eriogonum bifurcatum

Forked buckwheat

Family: Polygonaceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Forked buckwheat is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in southern Inyo and northeastern San Bernardino counties in sandy desert habitats at elevations of 600 to 800 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces white to faintly pink flowers in delicate, spreading inflorescences up to 50 centimeters wide. Growing with slender stems 10 to 40 centimeters tall, the plant has a low, spreading growth habit. Its basal leaves are nearly round, 1 to 3 centimeters long, and covered in a dense woolly tomentose texture. The small white flowers are distinctively shaped, with outer perianth lobes that are obovate to heart-shaped and inner lobes that are lance-like.

Habitat: Sand

Bloom period: May-Jun

Elevation: 600-800 m

Bioregions: DMoj (s Inyo, ne San Bernardino cos.)

California counties: Inyo, San Bernardino

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.