Kingdom Plantae Family Polygonaceae Scientific name Eriogonum alpinum Rank Species | Order Caryophyllales Genus Eriogonum Higher classification Eriogonum | |
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Similar Eriogonum hirtellum, Eriogonum, Eriogonum diclinum, Eriogonum siskiyouense | ||
Eriogonum alpinum is a species of wild buckwheat known by the common name Trinity buckwheat.
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Distribution
This rare plant is endemic to northern California. It is known from only about ten occurrences in the Mount Eddy and Cory Peak areas of the Trinity Mountains, within the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in southern Siskiyou County and northwestern Trinity County.
It grows in rocky serpentine soils at elevations of 2,185–2,900 metres (7,169–9,514 ft), in subalpine coniferous forest, upper montane coniferous forest, and alpine fell-field habitats. The Trinity Mountains are a range of the Klamath Mountains System.
Description
Eriogonum alpinum is a perennial herb growing in mats, no more than 15 centimetres (5.9 in) wide and 8 centimetres (3.1 in) tall. The woolly greenish leaves are rounded and one to three centimeters long.
The plant produces an erect inflorescence of bright yellow to pinkish flowers, each under a centimeter wide.
The fruit is an achene about half a centimeter long.
Conservation
This species is a California Department of Fish and Wildlife listed and a California Native Plant Society listed endangered species.