Eriogonum nutans var. nutans
Dugway wild buckwheat
(c) Dominic Gentilcore, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Dominic Gentilcore · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3
Eriogonum nutans var. nutans (Dugway wild buckwheat) is a native California herb in the Polygonaceae family.
Dugway wild buckwheat is a rare (CNPS 2B.3) California native annual found in northern Sierra Nevada eastern Mono County and southern Modoc Plateau northeastern Lassen County in sandy habitats at elevations of 1,200 to 2,300 meters. Flowering from May to September, this plant produces small white to tan flowers with distinctively glandular involucres. Growing with delicate branching stems, it forms low, spreading clusters in open sandy terrain. Its leaves are small and oriented close to the ground, adapting to the sparse, dry environments of its native range. The plant's compact growth and glandular characteristics make it well-suited to its challenging desert and montane habitats.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sand
Elevation: 1200-2300 m
California counties: Mono, Nevada, Humboldt
Outside California: to southeastern Oregon, western Utah, northwestern Arizona
Bloom period
Eriogonum nutans var. nutans blooms May-Sep.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.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 nutans var. nutans native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum nutans var. nutans is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum nutans var. nutans bloom?
Eriogonum nutans var. nutans blooms May-Sep.
Where in California does Eriogonum nutans var. nutans grow?
Eriogonum nutans var. nutans occurs in Mono, Nevada, Humboldt, at elevations of 1200-2300 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum nutans var. nutans belong to?
Eriogonum nutans var. nutans is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
Is Eriogonum nutans var. nutans rare or endangered?
Eriogonum nutans var. nutans carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.3, state rank S2?.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriogonum ochrocephalum var. ochrocephalum — Ochre-flowered buckwheat
- Eriogonum ordii — Fort mohave wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum ovalifolium — Cushion buckwheat
- Eriogonum ovalifolium var. caelestinum — Heavenly wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum ovalifolium var. depressum — Depressed wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum ovalifolium var. eximium — Brown-margined 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.