Eriogonum wrightii var. subscaposum
Short-stemmed bastard-sage, Short-Stemmed Bastard-Sage
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Eriogonum wrightii var. subscaposum (Short-stemmed bastard-sage) is a native California subshrub in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by mat form and broad elevational range.
Short-stemmed bastard-sage is a California native shrub found in the Sierra Nevada, central western California, Transverse Ranges, eastern Peninsular Ranges, eastern Sierra Nevada, and expected in northern Desert Mountains in gravelly or rocky habitats at elevations of 200 to 3,400 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces white to pink flowers in small clusters with distinctive involucres 1.5 to 4 millimeters long. Growing as a low, spreading mat 0.5 to 2.5 decimeters tall and 1 to 3 decimeters wide, it forms a dense, tomentose or occasionally glabrous ground cover. Its small leaves are compact, measuring 0.5 to 1 centimeters long and 0.2 to 0.4 centimeters wide, creating a tight, intricate foliage pattern. The fruit is compact, measuring 2 to 2.5 millimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 149 sympatric species; distinguished by mat form and broad elevational range
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Gravel or rocks
Elevation: 200-3400 m
California counties: Kern, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Mono, Inyo, Tulare, Mariposa, Ventura, Fresno, Nevada, Tuolumne, El Dorado, Alpine, Placer, Madera, Riverside, Sierra, Orange, Lassen, Alameda, Santa Clara, San Benito, Santa Barbara, Amador, Colusa, Monterey
Bloom period
Eriogonum wrightii var. subscaposum blooms Jun-Sep.
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. subscaposum native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum wrightii var. subscaposum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum wrightii var. subscaposum bloom?
Eriogonum wrightii var. subscaposum blooms Jun-Sep.
Where in California does Eriogonum wrightii var. subscaposum grow?
Eriogonum wrightii var. subscaposum occurs in Kern, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Mono, Inyo, Tulare, Mariposa, Ventura and other counties, at elevations of 200-3400 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum wrightii var. subscaposum belong to?
Eriogonum wrightii var. subscaposum is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
What habitat does Eriogonum wrightii var. subscaposum grow in?
Eriogonum wrightii var. subscaposum grows in Common. Gravel or rocks.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Eriogonum angulosum — Angle-stem wild buckwheat
- Fallopia baldschuanica — Bukhara fleeceflower
- Fallopia ×bohemica — Bohemian knotweed
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.