Eriogonum libertini
Dubakella mountain buckwheat
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Eriogonum libertini (Dubakella mountain buckwheat) is a native California subshrub in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by . Key features: serpentine substrate, sulfur-yellow flowers, low mat form.
Dubakella mountain buckwheat is a rare (CNPS 4.2) California native perennial found in southern Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges of the Shasta, Trinity, and Tehama counties in serpentine habitats at elevations of 1,100 to 1,600 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces sulphur yellow flowers in dense head-like clusters approximately 1 to 1.5 centimeters wide. Growing as a low mat 1 to 4 centimeters in diameter with hairy stems 5 to 15 centimeters tall, it forms a compact ground-hugging perennial. Its basal leaves are tomentose, measuring 5 to 15 millimeters long and 3 to 5 millimeters wide, with a soft, woolly texture. The fruit is 4 to 5 millimeters long, with a sparsely hairy tip.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 54 sympatric species. Key features: serpentine substrate, sulfur-yellow flowers, low mat form
Habitat and range
Habitat: Serpentine
Elevation: 1100-1600 m
California counties: Trinity, Tehama, Shasta, Siskiyou
Bloom period
Eriogonum libertini blooms Jun-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
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 libertini native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum libertini is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum libertini bloom?
Eriogonum libertini blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Eriogonum libertini grow?
Eriogonum libertini occurs in Trinity, Tehama, Shasta, Siskiyou, at elevations of 1100-1600 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum libertini belong to?
Eriogonum libertini is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
Is Eriogonum libertini rare or endangered?
Eriogonum libertini carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S4.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriogonum lobbii — Lobb's wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum luteolum — Golden buckwheat
- Eriogonum luteolum var. caninum — Tiburon buckwheat
- Eriogonum luteolum var. luteolum — Golden-carpet wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum luteolum var. pedunculatum — Mokelumne hill wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum luteolum var. saltuarium — Jack's wild buckwheat
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.