Eriogonum giganteum var. formosum

San clemente island buckwheat, San Clemente Island Buckwheat

Family: Polygonaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

San clemente island buckwheat is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native shrub found on San Clemente Island in southern Channel Islands in gravel habitats at elevations below 300 meters. Flowering from May to September, this plant produces white to cream-colored flowers in large, broad clusters 10 to 50 centimeters wide. Growing 3 to 15 decimeters tall with densely wooly stems that become somewhat smoother with age, the shrub has a robust and spreading growth habit. Its leaves are distinctive, with blades 5 to 8 centimeters long and 1 to 2 centimeters wide, providing a substantial green backdrop to its expansive flower clusters. The plant produces small fruits 3 to 3.5 millimeters long, characteristic of its buckwheat family lineage.

Habitat: Gravel

Bloom period: May-Sep

Elevation: < 300 m

Bioregions: s ChI (San Clemente Island).

California counties: Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Diego

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.