Eriogonum wrightii var. olanchense
Olancha peak buckwheat, Olancha Peak Buckwheat
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Eriogonum wrightii var. olanchense (Olancha peak buckwheat) is a native California herb in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by extreme alpine habitat and tiny mat form.
Olancha peak buckwheat is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native shrub found in southern Sierra Nevada Mountains at Olancha Peak in Tulare County, growing in gravel or rocky habitats at elevations of 3,500 to 3,600 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces white to pink flowers in small, compact head-like clusters. Growing as a low-spreading mat only 10 to 30 centimeters wide with a diameter of 0.5 to 3 centimeters, it forms a sparse, tomentose ground cover. Its tiny leaves are extremely small, measuring just 1 to 2.5 millimeters long and 0.6 to 1.2 millimeters wide. The plant's delicate white to pink flowers, measuring 1.5 to 2.5 millimeters long, emerge in dense, clustered formations characteristic of its genus.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 67 sympatric species; distinguished by extreme alpine habitat and tiny mat form
Habitat and range
Habitat: Gravel or rock
Elevation: 3500-3600 m
Bloom period
Eriogonum wrightii var. olanchense blooms Jul-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.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 wrightii var. olanchense native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum wrightii var. olanchense is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum wrightii var. olanchense bloom?
Eriogonum wrightii var. olanchense blooms Jul-Aug.
What plant family does Eriogonum wrightii var. olanchense belong to?
Eriogonum wrightii var. olanchense is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
Is Eriogonum wrightii var. olanchense rare or endangered?
Eriogonum wrightii var. olanchense carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S2.
What habitat does Eriogonum wrightii var. olanchense grow in?
Eriogonum wrightii var. olanchense grows in Gravel or rock.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriogonum wrightii var. subscaposum — Short-stemmed bastard-sage
- Eriogonum wrightii var. trachygonum — Rough-node bastard-sage
- Eriogonum wrightii var. wrightii — Wright's bastard-sage
- Eriogonum alexanderae — Alexander's buckwheat
- Eriogonum alpinum — Trinity buckwheat
- Eriogonum ampullaceum — Mono wild buckwheat
- Fallopia baldschuanica — Bukhara fleeceflower
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.