Eriogonum prattenianum var. avium

Kettle dome buckwheat

Family: Polygonaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 4.2

Kettle dome buckwheat is a rare California native shrub ranked 4.2 by CNPS, found in the central Sierra Nevada Mountains in Madera and Fresno counties, growing among rocky habitats at elevations of 1,000 to 2,900 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces small flowers in compact clusters with distinctive reflexed involucre teeth. Growing as a low subshrub 10 to 20 centimeters tall with a compact, spreading form, it develops woody stems with a distinctive branching pattern. Its leaves are notable for being tomentose (densely woolly) on the undersides while appearing nearly smooth on the upper surfaces, creating a soft, textured appearance. The small flower clusters emerge from these densely textured leaves, creating a delicate contrast between the plant's sturdy structure and its fine, intricate flowering details.

Habitat: Rocks

Bloom period: Jul-Aug

Elevation: 1000-2900 m

Bioregions: c&amps SNH (Madera, Fresno cos.).

California counties: Fresno, Madera

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.