Eriogonum arborescens

Eriogonum arborescens is a species of wild buckwheat known by the common name Santa Cruz Island buckwheat.[1][2][3]

Eriogonum arborescens
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Polygonaceae
Genus: Eriogonum
Species:
E. arborescens
Binomial name
Eriogonum arborescens

Distribution

This shrub is endemic to the northern Channel Islands of California except San Miguel Island.[1][2]

It is found in coastal sage scrub and chaparral habitats, between 10–600 metres (33–1,969 ft).[2]

Description

Eriogonum arborescens is a woody shrub that grows from 6–15 decimetres (2.0–4.9 ft) in height, and sprawling from 5–30 decimetres (1.6–9.8 ft) in diameter.[2]

The stems have shreddy maroon-brown bark. They bear narrow, fuzzy green leaves at the ends of the branches, each 2 to 5 centimeters long and sometimes with edges rolled under.[2]

The frilly inflorescences of densely clustered flowers erect on nearly naked peduncles. Each flower is only a few millimeters wide, very light pink in color, with nine protruding stamens. The bloom period is from April to October.[1][2]

Cultivated specimen in the Regional Parks Botanic Garden, California.

Uses

This species, and most buckwheats (Eriogonum sp.), are of special value to butterflies and native bees.[4][5]

Cultivation

Eriogonum arborescens is cultivated as an ornamental plant, for planting in native plant, drought tolerant, and in butterfly gardens and other wildlife gardens; and for larger designed natural landscaping and habitat restoration projects.[4][5][6]

See also
  • Flora of the Channel Islands of California
  • Flora of the California chaparral and woodlands

References
  1. Calflora: Eriogonum arborescens
  2. Jepson eFlora: Eriogonum arborescens
  3. Flora of North America profile of Eriogonum arborescens
  4. Theodore Payne Foundation, California Natives Wiki: Eriogonum arborescens
  5. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center−NPIN.org: Eriogonum arborescens
  6. Las Pilitas Nursery Horticultural Database: Eriogonum arborescens (Santa Cruz Island Buckwheat)


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