Eriogonum umbellatum var. bahiiforme

(Torrey & A. Gray) Jepson

Fl. Calif. 1: 425. 1914.

Common names: Santa Clara sulphur flower
Endemic
Basionym: Eriogonum polyanthum var. bahiiforme Torrey & A. Gray Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 8: 159. 1870 (as bahiaeforme)
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 5. Treatment on page 348. Mentioned on page 336, 346, 349.

Herbs, spreading mats, 0.8–2(–2.5) × 3–6 dm. Aerial flowering stems erect, usually 0.5–1.5 dm, tomentose, without one or more leaflike bracts ca. midlength. Leaves in rather compact rosettes; blade elliptic to oval, 0.5–1.5(–1.7) × 0.3–0.7 cm, densely white- to gray-lanate on both surfaces, margins plane. Inflorescences compound-umbellate, branched 2–5 times; branches tomentose, without a whorl of bracts ca. midlength; involucral tubes 2–3 mm, lobes 2–3.5(–4) mm. Flowers 5–8 mm; perianth bright yellow.


Phenology: Flowering Jul–Sep.
Habitat: Sandy to gravelly, mostly serpentine flats and slopes, oak and montane conifer woodlands
Elevation: 700-2000 m

Discussion

Variety bahiiforme occurs in widely scattered locations in the Central Coast Ranges (Colusa, Contra Costa, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, Santa Clara, and Sonoma counties) with a disjunct population in the San Gabriel Mountains of Los Angeles County. The more depauperate relative, var. minus, occurs in the mountains to the east.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
James L. Reveal +
(Torrey & A. Gray) Jepson +
Eriogonum polyanthum var. bahiiforme +
Santa Clara sulphur flower +
700-2000 m +
Sandy to gravelly, mostly serpentine flats and slopes, oak and montane conifer woodlands +
Flowering Jul–Sep. +
Eriogonum umbellatum var. bahiiforme +
Eriogonum umbellatum +
variety +