Eriogonum nutans
Dugway buckwheat
(c) Dominic Gentilcore, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Dominic Gentilcore · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Eriogonum nutans (Dugway buckwheat) is a native California herb in the Polygonaceae family.
Dugway buckwheat is a native annual herb found in desert and semi-arid regions of western North America. Flowering from late spring to summer, this delicate plant produces small white to rose-colored flowers in loose, branching clusters with recurved peduncles. Growing 5 to 30 centimeters tall with slender, glandular or smooth stems, it forms a compact and delicate structure. Its basal leaves are approximately round, typically 5 to 25 millimeters long, with a soft tomentose underside and varying degrees of hairiness on the upper surface. The tiny flowers, measuring 2 to 3 millimeters long, have distinctive outer lobes that are oblong to oval and inner lobes that are oblanceolate.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated species
Habitat and range
California counties: Butte, Modoc, Inyo
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 nutans native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum nutans is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Eriogonum nutans grow?
Eriogonum nutans occurs in Butte, Modoc, Inyo.
What plant family does Eriogonum nutans belong to?
Eriogonum nutans is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriogonum nutans var. glabratum — Deeth wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum nutans var. nutans — Dugway wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum ochrocephalum var. ochrocephalum — Ochre-flowered buckwheat
- Eriogonum ordii — Fort mohave wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum ovalifolium — Cushion buckwheat
- Eriogonum ovalifolium var. caelestinum — Heavenly 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.