258 Species of Genus Eriogonum

My Fascination with Eriogonum (Wild Buckwheat)

As a lifelong lover of all things botanical, I, Ferb Vu, have always been drawn to the unique beauty and diversity of the plant world. Lately, I’ve become particularly fascinated by the genus Eriogonum, commonly known as wild buckwheat. These hardy plants, with their delicate blooms and intricate structures, have captured my imagination and inspired me to learn more about their fascinating world.

Discovering the Diversity of Eriogonum

Eriogonum is a large genus of flowering plants in the family Polygonaceae, native to North America. The genus boasts over 250 species, exhibiting a remarkable array of forms, from low-growing mats to tall shrubs. This diversity is a testament to the genus’s ability to adapt and thrive in a variety of environments, from coastal dunes to alpine meadows.

One of the things that I find most captivating about Eriogonum is the sheer variety of its floral displays. The flowers, which are typically small and arranged in clusters, come in a spectrum of colors, including white, yellow, pink, red, and even purple. Some species, like Eriogonum umbellatum (sulphurflower buckwheat), have vibrant yellow blooms that resemble miniature sunflowers, while others, like Eriogonum nudum (naked buckwheat), have more subtle, creamy white flowers.

A Closer Look at Eriogonum Species

1. Eriogonum abertianum Torr.
2. Eriogonum acaule Nutt.
3. Eriogonum alatum Torr.
4. Eriogonum alexanderae (Reveal) Grady & Reveal
5. Eriogonum aliquantum Reveal
6. Eriogonum allenii S.Watson
7. Eriogonum alpinum Engelm.
8. Eriogonum × ammei Reveal & Veilleux
9. Eriogonum ammophilum Reveal
10. Eriogonum ampullaceum J.T.Howell
11. Eriogonum androsaceum Benth.
12. Eriogonum anemophilum Greene
13. Eriogonum angelense Moran
14. Eriogonum angulosum Benth.
15. Eriogonum annuum Nutt.
16. Eriogonum apiculatum S.Watson
17. Eriogonum apricum J.T.Howell
18. Eriogonum arborescens Greene
19. Eriogonum arcuatum Greene
20. Eriogonum aretioides Barneby
21. Eriogonum argillosum J.T.Howell
22. Eriogonum argophyllum Reveal
23. Eriogonum arizonicum Stokes ex M.E.Jones
24. Eriogonum artificis Reveal
25. Eriogonum atrorubens Engelm.
26. Eriogonum austrinum (S.Stokes) Reveal
27. Eriogonum baileyi S.Watson
28. Eriogonum batemanii M.E.Jones
29. Eriogonum bicolor M.E.Jones
30. Eriogonum bifurcatum Reveal
31. Eriogonum brachyanthum Coville
32. Eriogonum brachypodum Torr. & A.Gray
33. Eriogonum brandegeei Rydb.
34. Eriogonum breedlovei (J.T.Howell) Reveal
35. Eriogonum brevicaule Nutt.
36. Eriogonum butterworthianum J.T.Howell
37. Eriogonum caespitosum Nutt.
38. Eriogonum calaverense León de la Luz & Rebman
39. Eriogonum calcareum (S.Stokes) Grady & Reveal
40. Eriogonum callistum Reveal
41. Eriogonum capillare Small
42. Eriogonum capistratum Reveal
43. Eriogonum cedrorum Reveal & Raiche
44. Eriogonum cernuum Nutt.
45. Eriogonum chrysops Rydb.
46. Eriogonum ciliatum Torr. ex Benth.
47. Eriogonum cinereum Benth.
48. Eriogonum cithariforme S.Watson
49. Eriogonum clavatum Small
50. Eriogonum clavellatum Small
51. Eriogonum clivosum W.J.Hess & Reveal
52. Eriogonum codium Reveal, Caplow & K.Beck
53. Eriogonum collinum S.Stokes ex M.E.Jones
54. Eriogonum coloradense Small
55. Eriogonum compositum Douglas ex Benth.
56. Eriogonum concinnum Reveal
57. Eriogonum congdonii (S.Stokes) Reveal
58. Eriogonum contiguum (Reveal) Reveal
59. Eriogonum contortum Small
60. Eriogonum correllii Reveal
61. Eriogonum corymbosum Benth.
62. Eriogonum covilleanum Eastw.
63. Eriogonum crocatum Davidson
64. Eriogonum cronquistii Reveal
65. Eriogonum crosbyae Reveal
66. Eriogonum cusickii M.E.Jones
67. Eriogonum darrovii Kearney
68. Eriogonum dasyanthemum Torr. & A.Gray
69. Eriogonum davidsonii Greene
70. Eriogonum deflexum Torr.
71. Eriogonum deserticola S.Watson
72. Eriogonum diatomaceum Reveal, J.Reynolds & Picciani
73. Eriogonum diclinum Reveal
74. Eriogonum divaricatum Hook.
75. Eriogonum domitum Grady & Reveal
76. Eriogonum douglasii Benth.
77. Eriogonum × duchesnense Reveal
78. Eriogonum eastwoodianum J.T.Howell
79. Eriogonum effusum Nutt.
80. Eriogonum elatum Douglas ex Benth.
81. Eriogonum elegans Greene
82. Eriogonum elongatum Benth.
83. Eriogonum encelioides Reveal & C.A.Hanson
84. Eriogonum ephedroides Reveal
85. Eriogonum eremicola J.T.Howell & Reveal
86. Eriogonum eremicum Reveal
87. Eriogonum ericifolium A.Gray
88. Eriogonum esmeraldense S.Watson
89. Eriogonum evanidum Reveal
90. Eriogonum exaltatum M.E.Jones
91. Eriogonum exilifolium Reveal
92. Eriogonum fasciculatum Benth.
93. Eriogonum fastigiatum Parry
94. Eriogonum fimbriatum W.J.Hess & Reveal
95. Eriogonum flavum Nutt. ex Benth.
96. Eriogonum foliosum S.Watson
97. Eriogonum fusiforme Small
98. Eriogonum galioides I.M.Johnst.
99. Eriogonum giganteum S.Watson
100. Eriogonum gilmanii S.Stokes
101. Eriogonum glandulosum (Nutt.) Nutt. ex Benth.
102. Eriogonum gordonii Benth.
103. Eriogonum gossypinum Curran
104. Eriogonum gracile Benth.
105. Eriogonum gracilipes S.Watson
106. Eriogonum gracillimum S.Watson
107. Eriogonum grande Greene
108. Eriogonum greggii Torr. & A.Gray
109. Eriogonum gypsophilum Wooton & Standl.
110. Eriogonum hastatum Wiggins
111. Eriogonum havardii S.Watson
112. Eriogonum heermannii Durand & Hilg.
113. Eriogonum helichrysoides Prain
114. Eriogonum hemipterum (Torr. & A.Gray) S.Stokes
115. Eriogonum henricksonii Reveal
116. Eriogonum heracleoides Nutt.
117. Eriogonum hieraciifolium Benth.
118. Eriogonum hirtellum J.T.Howell & Bacigal.
119. Eriogonum hirtiflorum A.Gray ex S.Watson
120. Eriogonum hoffmannii S.Stokes
121. Eriogonum holmgrenii Reveal
122. Eriogonum hookeri S.Watson
123. Eriogonum howellianum Reveal
124. Eriogonum hylophilum Reveal & Brotherson
125. Eriogonum incanum Torr. & A.Gray
126. Eriogonum inerme (S.Watson) Jeps.
127. Eriogonum inflatum Torr.
128. Eriogonum intrafractum Coville & C.V.Morton
129. Eriogonum intricatum Benth.
130. Eriogonum jamesii Benth.
131. Eriogonum jonesii S.Watson
132. Eriogonum kelloggii A.Gray
133. Eriogonum kennedyi Porter ex S.Watson
134. Eriogonum kingii Torr. & A.Gray
135. Eriogonum lachnogynum Torr. ex Benth.
136. Eriogonum lagunense M.E.Jones
137. Eriogonum lancifolium Reveal & Brotherson
138. Eriogonum latens Jeps.
139. Eriogonum latifolium Sm.
140. Eriogonum lemmonii S.Watson
141. Eriogonum leptocladon Torr. & A.Gray
142. Eriogonum leptophyllum (Torr.) Wooton & Standl.
143. Eriogonum lewisii Reveal
144. Eriogonum libertini Reveal
145. Eriogonum lobbii Torr. & A.Gray
146. Eriogonum lonchophyllum Torr. & A.Gray
147. Eriogonum longifolium Nutt.
148. Eriogonum luteolum Greene
149. Eriogonum maculatum A.Heller
150. Eriogonum mancum Rydb.
151. Eriogonum marifolium A.Gray
152. Eriogonum meledonum Reveal
153. Eriogonum mensicola S.Stokes
154. Eriogonum microtheca Nutt.
155. Eriogonum mohavense S.Watson
156. Eriogonum molestum S.Watson
157. Eriogonum molle Greene
158. Eriogonum moranii Reveal
159. Eriogonum mortonianum Reveal
160. Eriogonum multiflorum Benth.
161. Eriogonum natum Reveal
162. Eriogonum nealleyi Coult.
163. Eriogonum × nebraskense Rydb.
164. Eriogonum nervulosum (S.Stokes) Reveal
165. Eriogonum nidularium Coville
166. Eriogonum niveum Douglas ex Benth.
167. Eriogonum nortonii Greene
168. Eriogonum novonudum M.Peck
169. Eriogonum nudum Douglas ex Benth.
170. Eriogonum nummulare M.E.Jones
171. Eriogonum nutans Torr. & A.Gray
172. Eriogonum ochrocephalum S.Watson
173. Eriogonum orcuttianum S.Watson
174. Eriogonum ordii S.Watson
175. Eriogonum ostlundii M.E.Jones
176. Eriogonum ovalifolium Nutt.
177. Eriogonum palmerianum Reveal
178. Eriogonum panamintense C.V.Morton
179. Eriogonum panguicense (M.E.Jones) Reveal
180. Eriogonum parishii S.Watson
181. Eriogonum parvifolium Sm.
182. Eriogonum pauciflorum Pursh
183. Eriogonum pelinophilum Reveal
184. Eriogonum pendulum S.Watson
185. Eriogonum pharnaceoides Torr.
186. Eriogonum pilosum S.Stokes
187. Eriogonum plumatella Durand & Hilg.
188. Eriogonum polycladon Benth.
189. Eriogonum polypodum Small
190. Eriogonum pondii Greene
191. Eriogonum prattenianum Durand
192. Eriogonum preclarum Reveal
193. Eriogonum prociduum Reveal
194. Eriogonum pulchrum Eastw.
195. Eriogonum pusillum Torr. & A.Gray
196. Eriogonum pyrolifolium Hook.
197. Eriogonum racemosum Nutt.
198. Eriogonum reniforme Torr. & Frém.
199. Eriogonum repens (S.Stokes) Reveal
200. Eriogonum ripleyi J.T.Howell
201. Eriogonum rixfordii S.Stokes
202. Eriogonum robustum Greene
203. Eriogonum rosense A.Nelson & P.B.Kenn.
204. Eriogonum roseum Durand & Hilg.
205. Eriogonum rotundifolium Benth.
206. Eriogonum rubricaule Tidestr.
207. Eriogonum rupinum Reveal
208. Eriogonum salicornioides Gand.
209. Eriogonum saxatile S.Watson
210. Eriogonum scabrellum Reveal
211. Eriogonum scalare S.Watson
212. Eriogonum scopulorum Reveal
213. Eriogonum shockleyi S.Watson
214. Eriogonum siskiyouense Small
215. Eriogonum smithii Reveal
216. Eriogonum soliceps Reveal & Björk
217. Eriogonum soredium Reveal
218. Eriogonum spathulatum A.Gray
219. Eriogonum spectabile B.L.Corbin & Reveal & R.Barron
220. Eriogonum spergulinum A.Gray
221. Eriogonum sphaerocephalum Douglas ex Benth.
222. Eriogonum strictum Benth.
223. Eriogonum subreniforme S.Watson
224. Eriogonum suffruticosum S.Watson
225. Eriogonum temblorense J.T.Howell & Twisselm.
226. Eriogonum tenellum Torr.
227. Eriogonum ternatum Howell
228. Eriogonum terrenatum Reveal
229. Eriogonum thomasii Torr.
230. Eriogonum thompsoniae S.Watson
231. Eriogonum thornei (Reveal & Henr.) L.M.Shultz
232. Eriogonum thurberi Torr.
233. Eriogonum thymoides Benth.
234. Eriogonum tiehmii Reveal
235. Eriogonum tomentosum Michx.
236. Eriogonum trichopes Torr.
237. Eriogonum tripodum Greene
238. Eriogonum truncatum Torr. & A.Gray
239. Eriogonum tumulosum (Barneby) Reveal
240. Eriogonum turneri Reveal
241. Eriogonum twisselmannii (J.T.Howell) Reveal
242. Eriogonum umbellatum Torr.
243. Eriogonum ursinum S.Watson
244. Eriogonum vestitum J.T.Howell
245. Eriogonum villiflorum A.Gray
246. Eriogonum villosissimum Reveal & D.A.York
247. Eriogonum vimineum Douglas ex Benth.
248. Eriogonum viridescens A.Heller
249. Eriogonum viridulum Reveal
250. Eriogonum viscanum W.J.Hess & Reveal
251. Eriogonum viscidulum J.T.Howell
252. Eriogonum visheri A.Nelson
253. Eriogonum watsonii Torr. & A.Gray
254. Eriogonum wetherillii Eastw.
255. Eriogonum wootonii (Reveal) Reveal
256. Eriogonum wrightii Torr. ex Benth.
257. Eriogonum zapatoense Moran
258. Eriogonum zionis J.T.Howell

The Ecological Importance of Eriogonum

Beyond their aesthetic appeal, Eriogonum species play a crucial role in their respective ecosystems. They are a vital food source for a wide range of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and moths. The flowers provide nectar and pollen, while the leaves are a food source for the larvae of some butterfly species.

Eriogonum plants also help to stabilize soils and prevent erosion, particularly in arid and semi-arid environments. Their deep root systems can access water deep within the soil, making them drought-tolerant and able to survive in harsh conditions.

My Personal Connection to Eriogonum

My interest in Eriogonum goes beyond mere admiration. I believe that these plants have the potential to play an even greater role in sustainable landscaping and ecological restoration. Their drought tolerance and ability to attract pollinators make them ideal candidates for gardens and landscapes in water-scarce regions.

I am also intrigued by the potential medicinal uses of Eriogonum. Some species have traditionally been used by Native American tribes for their anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Further research into these properties could lead to the development of new and effective treatments for a variety of ailments.

Looking Ahead

As I continue to explore the world of Eriogonum, I am excited to see what the future holds for these remarkable plants. I believe that they have much to offer us, both aesthetically and ecologically. By appreciating and understanding these plants, we can learn to live more sustainably and in harmony with the natural world.