Eriogonum microtheca var. corymbosoides
San bernardino wild buckwheat, San Bernardino Wild Buckwheat
Photo: parent species Eriogonum microtheca · (c) Jared Shorma, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Eriogonum microtheca var. corymbosoides (San bernardino wild buckwheat) is a native California shrub in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by . Key features: San Bernardino Mountains endemic, larger shrub size.
San bernardino wild buckwheat is a California native shrub found in eastern San Bernardino Mountains in gravelly areas at elevations of 1,800 to 2,900 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces white to slightly red flowers in compact clusters 1 to 4 centimeters long. Growing as a rounded shrub 3 to 6 decimeters tall with a 6 to 12 decimeter diameter, it features stems generally covered in woolly tomentose hair. Its leaves are small, measuring 1 to 2 centimeters long, with dense woolly hair on the undersides and varying hairiness on the upper surfaces. The plant produces fruits approximately 2.5 to 3 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 50 sympatric species. Key features: San Bernardino Mountains endemic, larger shrub size
Habitat and range
Habitat: Gravel
Elevation: (1500)1800-2900 m
Bloom period
Eriogonum microtheca var. corymbosoides blooms Jul-Sep.
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. corymbosoides native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum microtheca var. corymbosoides is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum microtheca var. corymbosoides bloom?
Eriogonum microtheca var. corymbosoides blooms Jul-Sep.
What plant family does Eriogonum microtheca var. corymbosoides belong to?
Eriogonum microtheca var. corymbosoides is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
What habitat does Eriogonum microtheca var. corymbosoides grow in?
Eriogonum microtheca var. corymbosoides grows in Gravel.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Eriogonum microtheca var. panamintense — Panamint mountains buckwheat
- Eriogonum microtheca var. schoolcraftii — Schoolcraft's wild 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.