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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Eriogonum ovalifolium (Cushion buckwheat)
Reveal, James L.

Eriogonum ovalifolium

Eriogonum ovalifolium Nutt.

Cushion Buckwheat

Polygonaceae (Buckwheat Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: EROV

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

A matted plant, often grayish-haired, with basal leaves and round heads of tiny, reddish or purplish to cream flowers on long, erect, leafless stems.

There is much variation, as is to be expected in a widespread species such as this, occurring over a broad elevational range. Alpine plants are generally dwarf; plants growing in sagebrush are usually taller. Flowers vary from cream to yellow when young; as they age, they may become reddish or purple.

 

From the Image Gallery

27 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb , Subshrub
Fruit Type: Achene
Size Notes: Up to about 1 foot tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Red , Yellow , Purple
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , CO , ID , MT , NM , NV , OR , UT , WA , WY
Canada: AB , BC
Native Distribution: British Columbia south to northern California and east to Rocky Mountains from New Mexico to Alberta.
Native Habitat: In open areas from sagebrush plains to open coniferous woodlands, alpine ridges, and rocky mountain slopes.

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees
Supports Conservation Biological Control

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:AGCPAKAWCBEMPGPHIMWNCNEWMVE
Status: FACU UPL FACU
This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Web Reference

Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) Calflora
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Eriogonum ovalifolium in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Eriogonum ovalifolium in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Eriogonum ovalifolium

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-05-01
Research By: TWC Staff

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