Scarlet Buckwheat
Teague Embrey, Nevada Native Plant Society Journal 2020 Volume 46
Eriogonum microtheca var. phoeniceum
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G5T1
State (S-rank): S1
Utah Wildlife Action Plan status
- SGCN
External links
General information
Eriogonum microthecum var. phoeniceum has a restricted range where it is known from Millard County, Utah. This species grows on volcanic tuff outcrops and is often associated with sagebrush communities and the pinyon-juniper woodland. Scarlet Buckwheat has tiny red, rose, pink or white flowers which bloom in a short inflorescence at the top of upright flowering stems. The stems are covered in tangled reddish cobwebby hairs which perhaps play a role in the very appropriate common name for this plant which can have an overall unique reddish appearance.
Description
Eriogonum microthecum var. phoeniceum has a restricted range where it is known from Millard County, Utah. This species grows on volcanic tuff outcrops and is often associated with sagebrush communities and the pinyon-juniper woodland. Scarlet Buckwheat has tiny red, rose, pink or white flowers which bloom in a short inflorescence at the top of upright flowering stems. The stems are covered in tangled reddish cobwebby hairs which perhaps play a role in the very appropriate common name for this plant which can have an overall unique reddish appearance.
Phenology
Flowers July to September.
Diagnostic characteristics
Eriogonum microthecum var. phoeniceum is closely related to var. lapidicola and var. simpsonii and can be identified by their leaves and hairs.
- var. phoeniceum has white hairy leaf blades that are tightly rolled under and have a green upper surface. The upper leaf surfaces are green due to having less hairs, while the lower leaf surfaces have dense white hairs. Stems are reddish hairy.
- var. lapidicola has reddish-brown hairs and flat leaf blades that do not roll under. Both leaf surfaces are covered in cobwebby tangled hairs.
- var. simpsonii has white hairs and leaf blades that can be more broad than var. phoeniceum and can be sometimes glabrous but are more often densely hair on both sides of the leaf surfaces.
Species range
Eriogonum microthecum var. phoeniceum is known from the Wah Wah Mountains in Millard County Utah (Shultz 1998).
Threats or limiting factors
Disturbance from grazing may be a threat to this variety, however, it is uncertain (Alexander 2015)
Taxonomy
Yes, this species has taxonomic discrepancies