Eriogonum brachypodum
Parry's wild buckwheat
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Eriogonum brachypodum (Parry's wild buckwheat) is a native California herb in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by glandular stems and inflorescence branches, distinctive in sandy Mojave/eastern Sierra habitats.
Parry's wild buckwheat is a California native annual found in the eastern Sierra Nevada and Mojave Desert bioregions on sandy habitats at elevations of 100 to 2,300 meters. Flowering throughout the year, this plant produces white to reddish flowers in open, glandular branched clusters up to 40 centimeters long. Growing from 0.5 to 4 decimeters tall with glandular stems, it develops a low-spreading form characteristic of desert environments. Its basal leaves are rounded, typically 1 to 3 centimeters long, and covered in dense white tomentose (woolly) indumentum that helps the plant retain moisture in arid conditions. The fruit is small, glabrous, and approximately 1.5 to 2 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 82 species; key feature is glandular stems and inflorescence branches, distinctive in sandy Mojave/eastern Sierra habitats
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Sand
Elevation: 100-2300 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo, Kern, Mono, Riverside
Outside California: to northwestern Arizona, southwestern Utah
Bloom period
Eriogonum brachypodum blooms All year.
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 brachypodum native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum brachypodum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum brachypodum bloom?
Eriogonum brachypodum blooms All year.
Where in California does Eriogonum brachypodum grow?
Eriogonum brachypodum occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, Kern, Mono, Riverside, at elevations of 100-2300 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum brachypodum belong to?
Eriogonum brachypodum is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
What habitat does Eriogonum brachypodum grow in?
Eriogonum brachypodum grows in Common. Sand.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.