Eriogonum wrightii var. trachygonum
Rough-node bastard-sage, Rough-Node Bastard-Sage
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Matson · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Eriogonum wrightii var. trachygonum (Rough-node bastard-sage) is a native California subshrub in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by largest leaves and northwestern foothill distribution.
Rough-node bastard-sage is a California native shrub found in northwestern California and northern Sierra Nevada foothills in gravelly habitats at elevations of 40 to 800 meters. Flowering from July to October, this plant produces white to pink or rose-colored flowers in small, branched clusters with involucres 2 to 4 millimeters long. Growing as a compact subshrub 15 to 40 centimeters tall and 10 to 50 centimeters wide, it features a distinctly tomentose (woolly) texture. Its leaf blades are relatively small, measuring 1.5 to 3 centimeters long and 0.5 to 1 centimeter wide, contributing to its dense and compact appearance. The fruit is approximately 2.5 to 3 millimeters long, completing its modest but distinctive structural profile.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 80 sympatric species; distinguished by largest leaves and northwestern foothill distribution
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Gravel
Elevation: 40-800 m
California counties: Kern, San Bernardino, Lake, San Benito, Alameda, Tulare, Nevada, Santa Clara, Tuolumne, Los Angeles, Stanislaus, Shasta, Mariposa, Ventura, Sacramento, Butte, Monterey, El Dorado, Colusa, Tehama, Solano, Napa, Fresno, San Joaquin, Yolo, Madera, Mono, Placer, Contra Costa
Bloom period
Eriogonum wrightii var. trachygonum blooms Jul-Oct.
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. trachygonum native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum wrightii var. trachygonum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum wrightii var. trachygonum bloom?
Eriogonum wrightii var. trachygonum blooms Jul-Oct.
Where in California does Eriogonum wrightii var. trachygonum grow?
Eriogonum wrightii var. trachygonum occurs in Kern, San Bernardino, Lake, San Benito, Alameda, Tulare, Nevada, Santa Clara and other counties, at elevations of 40-800 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum wrightii var. trachygonum belong to?
Eriogonum wrightii var. trachygonum is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
What habitat does Eriogonum wrightii var. trachygonum grow in?
Eriogonum wrightii var. trachygonum grows in Common. Gravel.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Eriogonum apiculatum — San jacinto wild buckwheat
- Fallopia baldschuanica — Bukhara fleeceflower
- Fallopia ×bohemica — Bohemian knotweed
- Fallopia convolvulus — Black bindweed
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-08
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.