Eriogonum compositum var. compositum
Arrow-leaf wild buckwheat
(c) Jeffrey Lee (he/him/his), some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jeffrey Lee (he/him/his) · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Eriogonum compositum var. compositum (Arrow-leaf wild buckwheat) is a native California subshrub in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by large involucres and massive leaves distinguish it from congeners.
Arrow-leaf wild buckwheat is a California native perennial found in northwestern California and the California Ranges on uncommon serpentine habitats at elevations of 30 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces pale to bright yellow flowers in clustered inflorescences with densely tomentose involucres 6 to 10 millimeters wide. Growing 40 to 70 centimeters tall with glabrous stems that are somewhat inflated, it forms distinctive clusters up to 5 centimeters in diameter. Its basal leaves are large and notable, with blades 7 to 25 centimeters long and 2 to 8 centimeters wide, generally covered in dense tomentum. The fruit is 5 to 6 millimeters long, glabrous except for a hairy tip.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 67 sympatric species; large involucres and massive leaves distinguish it from congeners
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Serpentine
Elevation: 30-2500 m
California counties: Trinity, Tehama, Siskiyou, Del Norte, Lake, Glenn, Humboldt, Sonoma, Mendocino, Napa, Shasta
Outside California: to Washington, Idaho
Bloom period
Eriogonum compositum var. compositum blooms Apr-Jul.
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 compositum var. compositum native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum compositum var. compositum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum compositum var. compositum bloom?
Eriogonum compositum var. compositum blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Eriogonum compositum var. compositum grow?
Eriogonum compositum var. compositum occurs in Trinity, Tehama, Siskiyou, Del Norte, Lake, Glenn, Humboldt, Sonoma and other counties, at elevations of 30-2500 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum compositum var. compositum belong to?
Eriogonum compositum var. compositum is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
What habitat does Eriogonum compositum var. compositum grow in?
Eriogonum compositum var. compositum grows in Uncommon. Serpentine.
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.