Eriogonum microtheca var. alpinum
Alpine slender buckwheat, Northern Limestone Buckwheat
Photo: parent species Eriogonum microtheca · (c) Jared Shorma, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Eriogonum microtheca var. alpinum (Alpine slender buckwheat) is a native California subshrub in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by . Key features: very small alpine shrub, rolled leaf margins, rocky habitat.
Alpine slender buckwheat is a rare (CNPS 4.3) California native shrub found in northern and central Sierra Nevada Mountains in Alpine and Tuolumne counties, and northern Sierra Nevada eastern region in Mono County, growing on rocky terrain at elevations of 2,500 to 3,300 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces white to pink or rose-colored flowers in small, compact inflorescences. Growing as a low, spreading subshrub only 10 to 30 centimeters tall with a diameter of 1 to 3 decimeters, it has a compact and dense growth form. Its small leaves are 3 to 7 millimeters long, tomentose on the undersides, with margins rolled tightly underneath. The tiny fruits are 1.5 to 2 millimeters long, complementing the plant's delicate alpine structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 50 sympatric species. Key features: very small alpine shrub, rolled leaf margins, rocky habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocks
Elevation: 2500-3300 m
Bloom period
Eriogonum microtheca var. alpinum blooms Jul-Sep.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 microtheca var. alpinum native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum microtheca var. alpinum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum microtheca var. alpinum bloom?
Eriogonum microtheca var. alpinum blooms Jul-Sep.
What plant family does Eriogonum microtheca var. alpinum belong to?
Eriogonum microtheca var. alpinum is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
Is Eriogonum microtheca var. alpinum rare or endangered?
Eriogonum microtheca var. alpinum carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S3.
What habitat does Eriogonum microtheca var. alpinum grow in?
Eriogonum microtheca var. alpinum grows in Rocks.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriogonum microtheca var. ambiguum — Yellow-flowered wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum microtheca var. corymbosoides — San bernardino wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum microtheca var. johnstonii — Johnston's buckwheat
- Eriogonum microtheca var. lacus-ursi — Bear lake buckwheat
- Eriogonum microtheca var. lapidicola — Inyo mountains buckwheat
- Eriogonum microtheca var. laxiflorum — Great basin 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.