Bushy Buckwheat

Eriogonum suffruticosum is a rare, localized species, known only from 13 scattered locations in Brewster and Presidio counties of western Texas. Its relationship to other species in the genus is obscure.

Subshrubs, spreading, not scapose, 1-2 × 2-4(-5) dm, thinly tomentose. Stems spreading, without persistent leaf bases, up to 4 height of plant; caudex stems absent; aerial flowering stems erect, slender, solid, not fistulose, 0.1-0.3 dm, thinly tomentose.  Leaves cauline, 1 per node or fasciculate; petiole 0.1-0.2 cm; blade narrowly elliptic, 0.5-0.8 × 0.1-0.25 cm, densely white-tomentose ab-axially, silky-tomentose adaxially, margins revolute. Inflorescences cymose, 0.5-1 × 0.5-1.5 cm; branches dichotomous, thinly tomentose; bracts 3, scalelike, narrowly elliptic, 1-3 mm. Peduncles slender, erect, 0.3-0.5 cm, thinly tomentose. Involucres 1 per node, campanulate, 2-3 × 2.5-3.5(-4) mm, thinly tomentose; lobes 6, reflexed, 1-1.5 mm. Flowers 3.5-6 mm; perianth white to yellowish white, with large reddish to maroon spots, glabrous; tepals connate proximally, dimorphic, those of the outer whorl fan-shaped, 2-4 × 2-4 mm, those of inner whorl oblanceolate, 3.5-6 × 1-2.5 mm; stamens slightly exserted, 2-3 mm; filaments pilose proximally. Achenes light brown, 3-3.5 mm, glabrous.

Tex.

Flowering Apr-May.

Rocky limestone slopes and outcrops, creosote bush communities; of conservation concern; 900-1400m.