Eriogonum esmeraldense var. esmeraldense
Esmeralda wild buckwheat
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jim Morefield · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Eriogonum esmeraldense var. esmeraldense (Esmeralda wild buckwheat) is a native California herb in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by sandy habitat, elevation range, and glandular hairy leaves.
Esmeralda wild buckwheat is a California native annual found in the central Sierra Nevada eastern slope and eastern Sierra Nevada regions in sandy habitats at elevations of 1,700 to 3,200 meters. Flowering from May to October, this plant produces white to pink or reddish flowers with delicate oblanceolate perianth lobes. Growing 5 to 50 centimeters tall with slender, glabrous stems, it forms low, spreading clusters across sandy terrain. Its basal leaves are distinctively round, 0.5 to 2.5 centimeters long, covered in fine hairs and often featuring glandular surfaces. The plant produces small, smooth fruits approximately 1.4 to 1.8 millimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 90 sympatric species; key features are sandy habitat, elevation range, and glandular hairy leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Locally common. Sand
Elevation: 1700-3200 m
California counties: Mono, Inyo
Outside California: Nevada, central Utah
Bloom period
Eriogonum esmeraldense var. esmeraldense blooms May-Oct.
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 esmeraldense var. esmeraldense native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum esmeraldense var. esmeraldense is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum esmeraldense var. esmeraldense bloom?
Eriogonum esmeraldense var. esmeraldense blooms May-Oct.
Where in California does Eriogonum esmeraldense var. esmeraldense grow?
Eriogonum esmeraldense var. esmeraldense occurs in Mono, Inyo, at elevations of 1700-3200 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum esmeraldense var. esmeraldense belong to?
Eriogonum esmeraldense var. esmeraldense is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
What habitat does Eriogonum esmeraldense var. esmeraldense grow in?
Eriogonum esmeraldense var. esmeraldense grows in Locally common. Sand.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriogonum evanidum — Vanishing wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum exaltatum — Ladder wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum fasciculatum — California buckwheat
- Eriogonum fasciculatum var. fasciculatum — Coastal california buckwheat
- Eriogonum fasciculatum var. flavoviride — Sonoran desert california buckwheat
- Eriogonum fasciculatum var. foliolosum — Leafy california 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.