Eriogonum gracilipes
White mountains wild buckwheat, White Mountains Wild Buckwheat
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Eriogonum gracilipes (White mountains wild buckwheat) is a native California herb in the Polygonaceae family.
White mountains wild buckwheat is a California native perennial found in the eastern Sierra Nevada and White Mountains on rocky and gravelly sites at elevations of 2,900 to 3,900 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces white to rose-colored flowers in compact heads 1 to 2 centimeters wide. Growing as a low mat 0.5 to 2 centimeters in diameter, it develops scape-like stems 3 to 10 centimeters tall that are glandular-hairy. Its basal leaves are densely tomentose, measuring 1 to 1.5 centimeters long and less than 0.6 centimeters wide. The small involucres surrounding its flower clusters are thin and generally glandular-hairy, with flowers measuring 2 to 3 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 0 sympatric species; geographically isolated
Habitat and range
Habitat: Gravel or rocks
Elevation: 2900-3900 m
California counties: Inyo, Mono, Tulare, Lassen
Outside California: west-central Nevada
Bloom period
Eriogonum gracilipes blooms Jul-Sep.
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 gracilipes native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum gracilipes is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum gracilipes bloom?
Eriogonum gracilipes blooms Jul-Sep.
Where in California does Eriogonum gracilipes grow?
Eriogonum gracilipes occurs in Inyo, Mono, Tulare, Lassen, at elevations of 2900-3900 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum gracilipes belong to?
Eriogonum gracilipes is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
What habitat does Eriogonum gracilipes grow in?
Eriogonum gracilipes grows in Gravel or rocks.
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.