Eriogonum breedlovei
Piute buckwheat
(c) Ryan Donnelly, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Eriogonum breedlovei (Piute buckwheat) is a native California herb in the Polygonaceae family.
Piute buckwheat is a California native perennial herb found in rocky alpine and subalpine habitats at elevations of 1,200 to 1,500 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces delicate white to reddish flowers in small clusters approximately 1 to 2.5 centimeters wide. Growing as a low, spreading mat only 2 to 15 centimeters tall with slender, glandular-hairy stems, it forms compact cushion-like formations in high-elevation landscapes. Its basal leaves are small and densely tomentose, typically 2 to 8 millimeters long and 2 to 4 millimeters wide, creating a compact silvery-green groundcover. The fruit is small, approximately 2.5 to 3 millimeters long with a sparsely glandular tip.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated from all other species in this genus
Habitat and range
California counties: Kern, Alpine, Inyo
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 breedlovei native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum breedlovei is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Eriogonum breedlovei grow?
Eriogonum breedlovei occurs in Kern, Alpine, Inyo.
What plant family does Eriogonum breedlovei belong to?
Eriogonum breedlovei is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
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.