Eriogonum umbellatum var. lautum

Scott valley buckwheat, Scott Valley Buckwheat

Family: Polygonaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1

Scott valley buckwheat is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges of Scott Valley, Siskiyou County in sandy or gravelly habitats at elevations of 800 to 900 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces bright yellow flowers in umbellate clusters. Growing as a low mat spreading 3 to 10 meters in diameter, it features stems 1 to 2 meters tall covered in soft tomentose (woolly) hairs. Its leaves are densely tomentose with blades 1 to 4 centimeters long and 0.8 to 1.8 centimeters wide, creating a compact and textured appearance. The plant's dense, woolly mat-like growth and vivid yellow flowers make it a distinctive feature of its sandy mountain habitat.

Habitat: Sand or gravel

Bloom period: Jul-Sep

Elevation: 800-900 m

Bioregions: KR (Scott Valley, Siskiyou Co.).

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