Species Detail Forb

Flower heads - John Kava		Yavapai County Native & Naturalized Plants Eriogonum umbellatum - sulphur-flower buckwheat Other Common Names: sulfur-flower wild buckwheat, sulfur buckwheat Plant Form: Forb or Subshrub Family: Polygonaceae
Flower heads - John Kava


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Plant - summer John Kava

Forb Plant Description

Origin: Native Life Cycle: Perennial
General Desc: A variable species with many different varieties & subspecies, but all plants make loose mats of leaves, often green above and gray- woolly beneath, with tiny, yellow or cream flowers in balls at ends of branches.
Identification notes: Bright yellow calyx; bracts subtending the inflorescence are large and leaflike; akenes not winged; stems many branched from the base; flower stems covered with hairs; woody stems; thin flower stems distinguishes this from other Eriogonum sp.
Height: 4 to 12 inches

Habitat

Habitat Description: Clearings in ponderosa pine forests and pinyon juniper woodlands.
Plant Communities: Pinyon Juniper Woodland, Montane Conifer Forest
Elevation: 5000 - 9000 feet

Flower Characteristics

Color: Yellow, yellowish-white Shape: Regular in round clusters Tubular: Y Flowering Period: Apr - Sep
Description: The rounded clusters of flowers occur at the end of 6-9 inch stems. The cream (yellowish-white) to sulfur-yellow, tubular flowers fade to orange or red.

Leaf and Stem Characteristics

Leaf Color: Gray-green Leaf Type: Simple Leaf Shape: Round or oval Leaf Margin: Smooth Leaf Attachment: Basal Leaves Clasp: N
Hairs: Leaves and stems Spines: N
Leaf Description: Leaves are oval to narrow and are whiteish and fuzzy underneath but gray-green and smooth on top. The scientific name, Eriogonum, means woolly knees in Greek and refers to the woolly joints on the stems of many species.

Fruit and Seed Characteristics

No Fruit or seed notes


	Arizona Cooperative Extension Yavapai County 840 Rodeo Dr #C Prescott, AZ 86305 (928) 445-6590	Version 8.0 http://cales.arizona.edu/yavapaiplants/SpeciesDetailForb.php Last Updated: Dec 13, 2022 Content Questions/Comments: Email Matt Halldorson Legal Disclaimer