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Eriogonum pyrolifolium

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Eriogonum pyrolifolium
Eriogonum pyrolifolium (Wenatchee Mountains)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Polygonaceae
Genus: Eriogonum
Species:
E. pyrolifolium
Binomial name
Eriogonum pyrolifolium

Eriogonum pyrolifolium (Shasta buckwheat, pyrola-leafed buckwheat, alpine buckwheat,[1] alpine eriogonum, oarleaf buckwheat, or dirty socks[2]) is a species of wild buckwheat. It is native to western North America, from British Columbia to the high mountains of California.

Description

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This is a small woody perennial reaching a maximum height and width of about 20 centimeters, including its inflorescence. Its rounded or spade-shaped, woolly (sometimes glabrous), petioled leaves are located at the base of the plant; their resemblance to the leaves of wintergreens (genus Pyrola) gives the species its name. The wool on the leaves and petioles sometimes has a pronounced orange color. Clusters of flowers appear on stalks which may be erect or bend to the ground. The small hairy flowers are greenish-white or white to pink.[1] At certain times during growth and blossoming this plant will emit an odor similar to sweaty, unwashed socks.[2][3]

Habitat

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Eriogonum pyrolifolium often grows on nearly barren dry rocky soil in sub-alpine and alpine locations, including extensive pumice and tephra slopes on Mount Rainier and other Cascade range volcanoes.

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References

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  1. ^ a b Pojar, Jim; Andy MacKinnon (1994). Plants of the Pacific Northwest. Lone Pine Publishing. p. 128. ISBN 1-55105-042-0.
  2. ^ a b Stewart, Charles (May 2010). Wildflowers of the Olympics and Cascades. Nature Education Enterprises. p. 70. ISBN 978-0-9621104-2-9.
  3. ^ "Flora of North America: Eriogonum pyrolifolium".
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