Eriogonum luteolum var. pedunculatum
Mokelumne hill wild buckwheat, Mokelumne Hill Wild Buckwheat
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ken-ichi Ueda · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Eriogonum luteolum var. pedunculatum (Mokelumne hill wild buckwheat) is a native California herb in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by . Key features: annual, Sierra foothill serpentine, white flowers.
Mokelumne hill wild buckwheat is a California native annual found in the Sierra Nevada Foothills on serpentine landscapes at elevations of 100 to 1,500 meters. Flowering from June to October, this plant produces delicate white flowers approximately 1 to 1.5 millimeters long. Growing with erect stems 3 to 6 decimeters tall and glabrous throughout, it develops an open, graceful form. Its leaves are primarily basal with wide blades, creating a soft, spreading base for the plant's slender inflorescence that can extend 10 to 50 centimeters. The plant's small white flowers cluster in distinctive involucres 3 to 3.5 millimeters wide, often sitting atop short erect peduncles.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 41 sympatric species. Key features: annual, Sierra foothill serpentine, white flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Serpentine
Elevation: 100-1500 m
California counties: Mariposa, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Placer, Sierra, Tulare, Nevada, Plumas, Tuolumne, Sutter
Bloom period
Eriogonum luteolum var. pedunculatum blooms Jun-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 luteolum var. pedunculatum native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum luteolum var. pedunculatum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum luteolum var. pedunculatum bloom?
Eriogonum luteolum var. pedunculatum blooms Jun-Oct.
Where in California does Eriogonum luteolum var. pedunculatum grow?
Eriogonum luteolum var. pedunculatum occurs in Mariposa, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Placer, Sierra, Tulare and other counties, at elevations of 100-1500 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum luteolum var. pedunculatum belong to?
Eriogonum luteolum var. pedunculatum is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
What habitat does Eriogonum luteolum var. pedunculatum grow in?
Eriogonum luteolum var. pedunculatum grows in Serpentine.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriogonum luteolum var. saltuarium — Jack's wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum maculatum — Spotted wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum marifolium — Marum leaved buckwheat
- Eriogonum marifolium var. cupulatum — Mccloud wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum marifolium var. marifolium — Marum-leaf wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum mensicola — Pinyon mesa 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.