Eriogonum heermannii var. sulcatum
Heermann's grooved wild buckwheat, Heermann's Grooved Wild Buckwheat
Photo: parent species Eriogonum heermannii · (c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Eriogonum heermannii var. sulcatum (Heermann's grooved wild buckwheat) is a native California shrub in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by grooved branches highly diagnostic.
Heermann's grooved wild buckwheat is a California native shrub found in the Desert Mountains in gravelly or rocky habitats at elevations of 700 to 2,700 meters. Flowering from April to October, this plant produces yellow-white flowers in compact clusters with sharply ridged and deeply grooved branches. Growing as a low, spreading subshrub 0.5 to 8 decimeters tall and up to 8 decimeters wide, it develops a dense, compact form. Its leaves are small and soft, with blades 0.4 to 1.2 centimeters long, covered in a dense tomentose (woolly) surface. The plant's distinctive grooved branches and dense, low-growing structure make it well-adapted to arid, rocky mountain environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 57 sympatric species; grooved branches highly diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Gravel or rocks
Elevation: 700-2700 m
California counties: Inyo, San Bernardino
Outside California: to northwestern Arizona, southwestern Utah
Bloom period
Eriogonum heermannii var. sulcatum blooms Apr-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 heermannii var. sulcatum native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum heermannii var. sulcatum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum heermannii var. sulcatum bloom?
Eriogonum heermannii var. sulcatum blooms Apr-Oct.
Where in California does Eriogonum heermannii var. sulcatum grow?
Eriogonum heermannii var. sulcatum occurs in Inyo, San Bernardino, at elevations of 700-2700 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum heermannii var. sulcatum belong to?
Eriogonum heermannii var. sulcatum is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
What habitat does Eriogonum heermannii var. sulcatum grow in?
Eriogonum heermannii var. sulcatum grows in Gravel or rocks.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriogonum heracleoides var. heracleoides — Parsnip-flowered buckwheat
- Eriogonum hirtellum — Klamath mountain buckwheat
- Eriogonum hirtiflorum — Hairy-flower wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum hoffmannii — Hoffmann's buckwheat
- Eriogonum hoffmannii var. hoffmannii — Hoffmann's buckwheat
- Eriogonum hoffmannii var. robustius — Robust hoffmann's 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.