Eriogonum brachyanthum
Short-flower wild buckwheat
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jim Morefield · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Eriogonum brachyanthum (Short-flower wild buckwheat) is a native California herb in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by extremely small flowers (0.6-0.8mm) and typically yellow perianth color.
Short-flower wild buckwheat is a California native annual herb found in the eastern Sierra Nevada and Mojave Desert bioregions in sandy habitats at elevations of 600 to 2,300 meters. Flowering from April to November, this plant produces pale yellow to white flowers less than one millimeter long. Growing with slender glabrous stems 5 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms compact low-growing plants. Its basal leaves are rounded, generally one to two centimeters long, and covered in soft woolly tomentose surfaces. The tiny flowers emerge in sparse, delicate branching clusters across sandy terrain.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 82 species; distinguished by extremely small flowers (0.6-0.8mm) and typically yellow perianth color
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Sand
Elevation: 600-2300 m
California counties: Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura, Inyo, Kern, Mono, Riverside, San Diego
Outside California: western Nevada, south-central Oregon
Bloom period
Eriogonum brachyanthum blooms Apr-Nov.
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 brachyanthum native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum brachyanthum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum brachyanthum bloom?
Eriogonum brachyanthum blooms Apr-Nov.
Where in California does Eriogonum brachyanthum grow?
Eriogonum brachyanthum occurs in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura, Inyo, Kern, Mono, Riverside, San Diego, at elevations of 600-2300 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum brachyanthum belong to?
Eriogonum brachyanthum is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
What habitat does Eriogonum brachyanthum grow in?
Eriogonum brachyanthum grows in Common. Sand.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriogonum brachypodum — Parry's wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum breedlovei — Piute buckwheat
- Eriogonum breedlovei var. breedlovei — Breedlove's buckwheat
- Eriogonum breedlovei var. shevockii — The needles buckwheat
- Eriogonum butterworthianum — Butterworth's buckwheat
- Eriogonum caespitosum — Matted wild buckwheat
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
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.