Eriogonum luteolum var. saltuarium

Jack's wild buckwheat, Jack's Wild Buckwheat

Family: Polygonaceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Jack's wild buckwheat is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in northern and central Sierra Nevada Mountains, specifically in Alpine and Tuolumne counties, in granitic sand habitats at elevations of 1,700 to 2,400 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces delicate white to rose-colored flowers in small clusters approximately 2 to 2.5 millimeters long. Growing with erect stems 20 to 40 centimeters tall that are glabrous and relatively slender, it develops distinctive rounded basal leaves. Its leaf blades are approximately round, spreading from the base of the plant in a subtle, elegant arrangement. The small fruits measure 1.8 to 2 millimeters in length, contributing to its compact and understated botanical profile.

Habitat: Granitic sand

Bloom period: Jul-Sep

Elevation: 1700-2400 m

Bioregions: n&ampc SNH (Alpine, Tuolumne cos.).

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