Species: Eriogonum cernuum var. cernuum Nutt.

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Eriogonum cernuum var. cernuum Nutt.

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TAXONOMY

Family:

Polygonaceae

Genus:

Eriogonum

Species Synonyms:

Eriogonum cernuum ssp. tenue (Torr. & Gray) S. Stokes
Eriogonum cernuum var. tenue Torr. & Gray

Common Names:

nodding buckwheat
nodding umbrella-plant

DISTRIBUTION

Canada:

southeastern Alberta – southwestern Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan:

southwestern Saskatchewan; Upper South Saskatchewan River – Leader – Webb

Ecoregion:

Mixed Grassland

HABITAT

Saskatchewan:

dry, eroded grassland slopes

Associated species:

dune scurfpea, Indian ricegrass, Missouri goldenrod, orange flax, prairie sunflower

RARITY STATUS

Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):

Threatened

Nature Conservancy Status:

G5 N2 S1

Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:

None

COSEWIC Status:

None

Nodding buckwheat is threatened because it is rare or uncommon and is regionally restricted in the province. Most populations are small. Possible threats have been identified for this species.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION

Height:

5 – 60 cm

Stems:

persistent stem base absent; annual, spreading to erect, branched, greyish, greenish or reddish, hairless

Leaves:

basal or sheathing, 1 – 2 cm long, 1 – 2 cm wide, oval to round; stalk 1 – 4 cm long, woolly

Inflorescence:

heads reflexed, open to diffuse, 5 – 40 cm; branches hairless; bracts 3, scale-like; inflorescence stalk spreading to ascending or nodding, hairless

Flowers:

1 – 2 mm, hairless; tepals white to pinkish, becoming rose to red, of two kinds (outer whorl fiddle-shaped, inner whorl egg-shaped); stamens exserted

Fruits:

single-seeded, dry, light brown to brown, three-angled, hairless

ERIOGONUM KEY FOR SPECIES FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN

1 Stems diffusely branched; flowers in reflexed heads; tepals hairless	E. cernuum var. cernuum
1 Stems generally unbranched; flowers in umbrella-like clusters; tepals hairy	2

2 Tepals not stalked at base, cream-coloured to pink-tinged; stems forming loose mats	E. pauciflorum var. pauciflorum
2 Tepals stalked at base, pale to deep yellow; stems forming dense mats	E. flavum var. flavum