Cushionbury wild buckwheat

Eriogonum vineum Small, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 25: 45. 1898; E. ovalifolium subsp. vineum (Small) S. Stokes

Plants 1.5-2.5 dm wide. Leaf blades usually round, 0.7-1.2 cm, densely white-lanate, margins not brownish. Scapes erect or nearly so, 3-6 cm, floccose to nearly glabrous. Inflorescences capitate, 1.5-3.5 cm wide; branches absent. Involucres 2-4(-5) per cluster, 5-7 mm. Flowers 5-7 mm; perianth white to cream.

Flowering May-Jun. Limestone talus slopes, creosote bush and saltbush communities, conifer woodlands; of conservation concern; 1500-2100 m; Calif.

Variety vineum is a rare and localized taxon restricted to the Cushionbury Grade area of San Bernardino County. It has been designated federally as endangered (see M. C. Neel et al. 2001; Neel and N. C. Ellstrand 2003) and is in the Center for Plant Conservation's National Collection of Endangered Plants. The plants are highly attractive and worthy of cultivation.