Eriogonum butterworthianum
Encyclopedia
Eriogonum butterworthianum is a rare species of wild buckwheat
known by the common name Butterworth's buckwheat. It is endemic to the Santa Lucia Mountains
of central Monterey County, California
, where it is known from a few occurrences in the wilderness southeast of Big Sur in the vicinity of Junipero Serra Peak
. It grows in woodland and chaparral
habitat on sandstone
soils. This is a small clumpy shrub
or subshrub growing up to about 30 centimeters tall and wide. The reddish-green, woolly leaves are oval in shape and curled under at the edges. They are up to 2 centimeters long. The inflorescence
is a cluster of flowers up to 2 or 3 centimeters wide, each individual flower a few millimeters wide and dull yellowish to pinkish in color.
Eriogonum
Eriogonum is the scientific name for 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...
known by the common name Butterworth's buckwheat. It is endemic to the Santa Lucia Mountains
Santa Lucia Mountains
The Santa Lucia Mountains or Santa Lucia Range is a mountain range in coastal California, running from Monterey southeast for 105 miles to San Luis Obispo. The highest summit is Junipero Serra Peak, in Monterey County...
of central Monterey County, California
Monterey County, California
Monterey County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, its northwestern section forming the southern half of Monterey Bay. The northern half of the bay is in Santa Cruz County. As of 2010, the population was 415,057. The county seat and largest city is Salinas...
, where it is known from a few occurrences in the wilderness southeast of Big Sur in the vicinity of Junipero Serra Peak
Junipero Serra Peak
Junipero Serra Peak is the highest mountain in the Santa Lucia Mountains of California. It is also the highest peak in Monterey County. It is named after Franciscan Friar Junípero Serra, founder of the California Missions.- Toponymy :...
. It grows in woodland and chaparral
Chaparral
Chaparral is a shrubland or heathland plant community found primarily in the U.S. state of California and in the northern portion of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico...
habitat on sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
soils. This is a small clumpy shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
or subshrub growing up to about 30 centimeters tall and wide. The reddish-green, woolly leaves are oval in shape and curled under at the edges. They are up to 2 centimeters long. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is a cluster of flowers up to 2 or 3 centimeters wide, each individual flower a few millimeters wide and dull yellowish to pinkish in color.