Eriogonum marifolium var. marifolium
Marum-leaf wild buckwheat
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Matson · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Eriogonum marifolium var. marifolium (Marum-leaf wild buckwheat) is a native California perennial in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by smaller involucres and yellow flowers.
Marum-leaf wild buckwheat is a California native perennial found in eastern Klamath Ranges, Cascade Range, and northern and central Sierra Nevada Mountains in sandy habitats at elevations of 1,100 to 3,100 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces white to cream-colored flowers in small, compact clusters less than 3 millimeters wide. Growing with delicate, low-spreading stems, it forms compact clusters close to the ground. Its leaves are distinctive, with small blades ranging from 3 to 15 millimeters wide, typically rounded or nearly circular in shape. The plant thrives in sandy environments, creating low, dense mats characteristic of many wild buckwheat species.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 44 sympatric species; smaller involucres and yellow flowers help distinguish
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Sand
Elevation: (900)1100-3100 m
California counties: Plumas, Sierra, Siskiyou, Amador, Alpine, Butte, Shasta, Tehama, Trinity, El Dorado, Lassen, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Tuolumne, Modoc
Outside California: to Washington, western Nevada
Bloom period
Eriogonum marifolium var. marifolium blooms Jun-Aug.
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 marifolium var. marifolium native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum marifolium var. marifolium is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum marifolium var. marifolium bloom?
Eriogonum marifolium var. marifolium blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Eriogonum marifolium var. marifolium grow?
Eriogonum marifolium var. marifolium occurs in Plumas, Sierra, Siskiyou, Amador, Alpine, Butte, Shasta, Tehama and other counties, at elevations of (900)1100-3100 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum marifolium var. marifolium belong to?
Eriogonum marifolium var. marifolium is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
What habitat does Eriogonum marifolium var. marifolium grow in?
Eriogonum marifolium var. marifolium grows in Common. Sand.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriogonum mensicola — Pinyon mesa buckwheat
- Eriogonum microtheca — Great basin buckwheat
- Eriogonum microtheca var. alpinum — Alpine slender buckwheat
- Eriogonum microtheca var. ambiguum — Yellow-flowered wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum microtheca var. corymbosoides — San bernardino wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum microtheca var. johnstonii — Johnston's buckwheat
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.