Eriogonum sphaerocephalum var. halimioides

(Gandoger) S. Stokes

Eriogonum, 104. 1936.

Common names: Halimium wild buckwheat
Endemic
Basionym: Eriogonum halimioides Gandoger Bull. Soc. Roy. Bot. Belgique 42: 197. 1906
Synonyms: Eriogonum fruticulosum S. Stokes
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 5. Treatment on page 362. Mentioned on page 361.

Leaf blades mostly narrowly oblanceolate to narrowly spatulate, mostly tomentose on both surfaces or floccose adaxially, margins usually plane. Inflorescences capitate or umbellate. Perianths pale yellow to cream or ochroleucous. 2n = 40.


Phenology: Flowering May–Jul.
Habitat: Sandy to gravelly, occasionally volcanic flats and slopes, sagebrush communities, juniper and montane conifer woodlands
Elevation: 300-2300 m

Distribution

V5 739-distribution-map.gif

Calif., Idaho, Nev., Oreg., Wash.

Discussion

Variety halimioides is common and widespread in three areas of concentration. The northernmost is east of the Cascade Range in central Washington (Douglas, Kittitas, Klickitat, and Yakima counties). The middle series of populations occurs from central Oregon (Gilliam, Jefferson, Union, Wallowa, and Wasco counties) east into Idaho (Blaine, Elmore, Gem, Gooding, and Washington counties). The southernmost series is in central-southern Oregon (Baker, Grant, Harney, Jackson, Klamath, Lake, Malheur, and Wheeler counties), northeastern California (Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, and Siskiyou counties), and northwestern Nevada (Humboldt and Washoe counties).

Variety halimioides is highly variable, and a clear distinction between it and some populations assigned here to E. douglasii var. douglasii is not always possible. Of particular concern are those plants of var. halimioides in northeastern Oregon and adjacent southeastern Washington with capitate rather than umbellate inflorescences. Much of what has passed for E. douglasii (especially its sublineare phase) in that area actually may be var. halimioides.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
James L. Reveal +
(Gandoger) S. Stokes +
Eriogonum halimioides +
Halimium wild buckwheat +
Calif. +, Idaho +, Nev. +, Oreg. +  and Wash. +
300-2300 m +
Sandy to gravelly, occasionally volcanic flats and slopes, sagebrush communities, juniper and montane conifer woodlands +
Flowering May–Jul. +
Eriogonum fruticulosum +
Eriogonum sphaerocephalum var. halimioides +
Eriogonum sphaerocephalum +
variety +