''Eriogonum heracleoides'' (common names; parsnipflower buckwheat, whorled buckwheat, and Wyeth buckwheat
) is a plant of western North America that has many flowering clusters which are usually cream colored, or off-white. It can usually be found in rocky areas, such as
sagebrush deserts and Ponderosa pine forests. Parsnipflower buckwheat is in the genus ''
Eriogonum
''Eriogonum'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Polygonaceae. The genus is found in North America and is known as wild buckwheat. This is a highly species-rich genus, and indications are that active speciation is continuing. It incl ...
'' and the family Polygonaceae, which is a family of plants known as the "knotweed family". It inhabits much of the western part of the United States and southern British Columbia.
Description
The parsnipflower buckwheat is an erect
herbaceous perennial plant
A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...
rarely more than tall. Blooming early in the summer, its flowers measure ; these are pale yellow and redden with age.
The leaves are arranged in loose rosettes, covered with soft hairs measuring . The hairs feel woolly and matted, and cover both sides of the leaf.
The flowers have one
carpel
Gynoecium (; ) is most commonly used as a collective term for the parts of a flower that produce ovules and ultimately develop into the fruit and seeds. The gynoecium is the innermost whorl of a flower; it consists of (one or more) '' pistils' ...
(achene). The plant has a whorled arrangement of leaves at midpoint of the stem
as well as one beneath the base of the stems.
It blooms in early to mid summer. It attracts butterflies, bees, insects, and birds and is the host plant for several
Palouse
The Palouse ( ) is a distinct geographic region of the northwestern United States, encompassing parts of north central Idaho, southeastern Washington, and, by some definitions, parts of northeast Oregon. It is a major agricultural area, prima ...
butterflies.
References
Further reading
*
External links
*
cwnp.org: ''Eriogonum heracleoides''Parsnipflower Buckwheat
{{Taxonbar, from=Q5389387
heracleoides
Flora of the Northwestern United States
Flora of California
Flora of Nevada
Plants described in 1834
Flora without expected TNC conservation status