Eriogonum microtheca var. schoolcraftii
Schoolcraft's wild buckwheat
Photo: parent species Eriogonum microtheca · (c) Jared Shorma, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Eriogonum microtheca var. schoolcraftii (Schoolcraft's wild buckwheat) is a native California shrub in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by . Key features: large shrub size, yellow flowers, Modoc Plateau habitat.
Schoolcraft's wild buckwheat is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native shrub found in southern Lassen County in the Modoc Plateau, growing in gravelly areas at elevations of 1,400 to 2,200 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces yellow flowers in compact clusters 1 to 8 centimeters long. Growing 3 to 8 decimeters tall with a spread of 5 to 10 decimeters, it has hairy stems approximately 0.5 to 1.5 decimeters long. Its leaves are tomentose on the undersides, with blades 1.5 to 3.5 centimeters long and 0.5 to 1.2 centimeters wide, appearing soft and dense. The small yellow flowers and woolly foliage make this wild buckwheat a distinctive shrub of high-elevation gravelly landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 45 sympatric species. Key features: large shrub size, yellow flowers, Modoc Plateau habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Gravel
Elevation: 1400-2200 m
Outside California: west-central Nevada
Bloom period
Eriogonum microtheca var. schoolcraftii blooms Jul-Sep.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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. schoolcraftii native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum microtheca var. schoolcraftii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum microtheca var. schoolcraftii bloom?
Eriogonum microtheca var. schoolcraftii blooms Jul-Sep.
What plant family does Eriogonum microtheca var. schoolcraftii belong to?
Eriogonum microtheca var. schoolcraftii is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
Is Eriogonum microtheca var. schoolcraftii rare or endangered?
Eriogonum microtheca var. schoolcraftii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S3.
What habitat does Eriogonum microtheca var. schoolcraftii grow in?
Eriogonum microtheca var. schoolcraftii grows in Gravel.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.