Eriogonum nudum var. pauciflorum
Little-flower wild buckwheat, Little-Flower Wild Buckwheat
Photo: parent species Eriogonum nudum · no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Eriogonum nudum var. pauciflorum (Little-flower wild buckwheat) is a native California subshrub in the Polygonaceae family.
Little-flower wild buckwheat is a California native perennial found in the Mojave Desert and Peninsular Ranges in sandy habitats at elevations of 1,100 to 2,800 meters. Flowering from June to October, this plant produces white or yellow flowers in delicate, sparse clusters up to 30 centimeters wide. Growing with slender stems 3 to 8 decimeters tall that are glabrous and rarely inflated, it forms an open, airy structure. Its basal leaves are distinctively tomentose on the underside, with blades 1.5 to 3 centimeters long and 0.8 to 1.8 centimeters wide, appearing soft and grayish-green. The plant's open, widely branching inflorescence creates a light and delicate appearance in its sandy desert habitat.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sand
Elevation: 1100-2800 m
California counties: Kern, Riverside, Tulare, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Monterey, Ventura, San Diego, Orange, Tuolumne, Inyo, Santa Barbara, Marin, Mono, San Luis Obispo, San Joaquin
Outside California: northern Baja California
Bloom period
Eriogonum nudum var. pauciflorum blooms Jun-Oct.
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 nudum var. pauciflorum native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum nudum var. pauciflorum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum nudum var. pauciflorum bloom?
Eriogonum nudum var. pauciflorum blooms Jun-Oct.
Where in California does Eriogonum nudum var. pauciflorum grow?
Eriogonum nudum var. pauciflorum occurs in Kern, Riverside, Tulare, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Monterey, Ventura, San Diego and other counties, at elevations of 1100-2800 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum nudum var. pauciflorum belong to?
Eriogonum nudum var. pauciflorum is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
What habitat does Eriogonum nudum var. pauciflorum grow in?
Eriogonum nudum var. pauciflorum grows in Sand.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriogonum nudum var. psychicola — Antioch dunes buckwheat
- Eriogonum nudum var. pubiflorum — Fremont's wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum nudum var. regirivum — Kings river buckwheat
- Eriogonum nudum var. scapigerum — Sierran crest wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum nudum var. westonii — Weston's wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum nummulare — Money 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.