Taxon Details

Eriogonum microtheca var. johnstonii

Johnston's buckwheat

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Taxon Summary:

Eriogonum microtheca var. johnstonii, commonly known as Johnston's buckwheat, is a perennial deciduous shrub in the Polygonaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Subalpine coniferous forest, and Upper montane coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 1829 to 2926 meters. Eriogonum microtheca var. johnstonii is ranked 1B.3, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Not very threatened in California.

Classification

Scientific Name: Eriogonum microtheca Nutt. var. johnstonii Rev.
Common Name: Johnston's buckwheat
Family:	Polygonaceae
Element Code:	PDPGN083W5
USDA Plants Symbol:	ERMIJ
Synonyms/Other Names:
Name Status:	JEF, FNA, POWO, IPNI, Tropicos

Conservation Status

CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.3
Fed List:	None
State List:	None
Global Rank:	G5T2
State Rank:	S2
Other Status:	SB_CalBG/RSABG; USFS_S
CRPR Changes:
Add Date:	1974-01-01
Date Edited:	2025-05-06

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial deciduous shrub

Blooming Period: Jul-Sep

Elevation:
1829 - 2926 meters
6000 - 9600 feet

General Habitats:

Subalpine coniferous forest
Upper montane coniferous forest

Microhabitat Details:

Microhabitat:

Rocky

Notes

Notes: Known from fewer than ten occurrences; most in designated wilderness areas. Angeles NF has adopted species management guidelines. Threatened by mining and recreational activities. See Phytologia 66(4):313 (1989) for taxonomic treatment.
Threats:
Taxonomy:

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

THREAT LIST:
Threat List Total:	6
	Total EOs	% of EOs
EOs with Threat Listed:	4	57 %
Foot traffic/trampling	2	28%
Grazing	2	28%
Mining	1	14%
Over-collecting/poaching	1	14%
Recreational use (non-ORV)	1	14%
Road/trail construction/maint.	1	14%

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Element Occurrence Ranks:
Total Occurrences:					7
A	B	C	D	X	U
2	0	0	0	0	5

Occurrence Status:
Historical >20 Years	5
Recent <=20 Years	2

Presence:
Presumed Extant	7
Possibly Extirpated	0
Presumed Extirpated	0

Location

California Endemic:

California Island:

States: Name (Code)
California (CA)

California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Los Angeles (LAX), San Bernardino (SBD)

Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Big Bear City (3411637), Cucamonga Peak (3411725), Fawnskin (3411638), Mount San Antonio (3411736), Onyx Peak (3411626)

Notes:

Definitions of codes following a county and/or quad:
*		Presumed extirpated
(?)		Occurrence confirmed, but possibly extirpated
Quad and county data is imported from the CNDDB. Species may be present in other areas where conditions are favorable. These data should NOT be substituted for pre-project review or for on-site surveys.

Regional Map

Map

Presumed Extant

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CNPS Rare Plant Inventory