Zion Buckwheat
Braydon Lake; David Greenberger; David Greenberger; Eric Koberle
Eriogonum zionis var. zionis
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G4T3
State (S-rank): S2
Utah Wildlife Action Plan status
- SGCN
External links
General information
Eriogonum zionis var. zionis is a perennial herb that can be found in certain areas of Southern Utah and parts of Arizona . Its white or yellow flowers can be seen blooming July-October, in areas with sandy soils 1,300-2,100 m in elevation.
Description
Plants grow erect or spreading, with leafless flowering stems that are typically hollow and enlarged and usually lacking hair, though they may rarely be covered in a short matted wool. Stems reach 30-80 cm tall. Leaves grow from the base of the plant, 2-4.5 cm long and ovate in shape. A whorl of bracts measuring 1.5-3 mm subtends flowers which measure 2-3.5 mm; all together the inflorescence measures 20-45 cm. The perianth (the sepals and petals) of the flowers are typically white to yellow.
Phenology
Flowering July throughout October.
Diagnostic characteristics
This variety appears very similar to E. racemosum, sharing leaf arrangement, size and shape, arrangement of inflorescence, etc. However, the stems of E. zionis var. zionis tend to be swollen below their first branches and also tend to lack hair. On the other hand, E. racemosum tends to lack swelling on the stems and are only occasionally lacking hair. Finally, E. zionis var. zionis is much more restricted in its geographic distribution than E. racemosum (see Range comments). E. zionis var. zionis can be distinguished from another variety of the same species, var. coccineum, using flower color, with the latter having bright red flowers. However, these two varieties do not co-occur in Utah.
Species range
Once divided into several varieties, var. nobilis has only been found in San Juan County while var. zionis has been found in Zane and Washington Counties. Populations also occur in Arizona.
Map
Habitat
This species occurs in sagebrush, scrub oak, pinyon-juniper and montane conifer woodland communities. It grows in deep, sandy soils, at elevations ranging from 1300-2100 m.
Threats or limiting factors
Threats to this taxon may be primarily from the grazing-related impacts of grazing and climate change. Mining may also be a threat.
Taxonomy
No, this species does not have taxonomic discrepancies