Eriogonum intrafractum
Encyclopedia
Eriogonum intrafractum is a species of wild buckwheat
known by the common names jointed buckwheat and napkinring. This plant is endemic to Inyo County, California
, where it is known only from the mountain ranges surrounding Death Valley
. It is an uncommon, distinctive perennial herb which grows in scattered patches on rocky limestone
soils in these desert mountains.
s, hence its common name, the napkinring buckwheat.
Clusters of flowers appear at nodes along this stem, which is actually part of the inflorescence
. The clusters are densely packed with tiny yellow or red flowers.
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 names jointed buckwheat and napkinring. This plant is endemic to Inyo County, California
Inyo County, California
-National protected areas:* Death Valley National Park * Inyo National Forest * Manzanar National Historic Site-Major highways:* U.S. Route 6* U.S. Route 395* State Route 127* State Route 136* State Route 168* State Route 178...
, where it is known only from the mountain ranges surrounding Death Valley
Death Valley
Death Valley is a desert valley located in Eastern California. Situated within the Mojave Desert, it features the lowest, driest, and hottest locations in North America. Badwater, a basin located in Death Valley, is the specific location of the lowest elevation in North America at 282 feet below...
. It is an uncommon, distinctive perennial herb which grows in scattered patches on rocky limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
soils in these desert mountains.
Description
It forms a basal clump of woolly leaves up to seven centimeters long and bolts an erect, naked stem. The brown to reddish or tan stem branches very little or not at all. It is brittle and breaks into hollow, thin segments which are said to resemble napkin ringNapkin ring
The napkin ring, sometimes called serviette ring, was originally used to identify the napkins of a household between weekly wash days. The standard napkin ring is a simple ring made from skewers. The figural napkin ring is an American specialty in which the simple napkin ring is part of a small...
s, hence its common name, the napkinring buckwheat.
Clusters of flowers appear at nodes along this stem, which is actually part of 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...
. The clusters are densely packed with tiny yellow or red flowers.