Taxon Report

Eriogonum kennedyi Wats. var. alpigenum M. & J.

southern alpine buckwheat

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Eriogonum kennedyi var. alpigenum, commonly known as southern alpine buckwheat, is a perennial herb in the Polygonaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Alpine boulder and rock field, and Subalpine coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 2600 to 3500 meters. Eriogonum kennedyi var. alpigenum is ranked 1B.3, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Not very threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Eriogonum kennedyi Wats. var. alpigenum M. & J.
Common Name:	southern alpine buckwheat
Family:	Polygonaceae
Element Code:	PDPGN083B1
USDA Plants Symbol:	ERKEA
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial herb
Blooming Period: Jul-Sep	Jul-Sep
Elevation:	2600-3500 (8530-11485)
General Habitats:	Alpine boulder and rock field, Subalpine coniferous forest
Microhabitat:	Granitic, Gravelly
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.3
Global Rank:	G4T3
State Rank:	S3
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	SB_CalBG/RSABG; USFS_S
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	9
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	2
Good (B)	2
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	5

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Kern (KRN), Los Angeles (LAX), San Bernardino (SBD), Ventura (VEN)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Crystal Lake (3411737), Moonridge (3411627), San Gorgonio Mtn. (3411617), Sawmill Mountain (3411972)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	3
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	3	33 %
Foot traffic/trampling	2	22%
Recreational use (non-ORV)	2	22%
Road/trail construction/maint.	1	11%

Notes



Possibly threatened by foot traffic and recreational activities. Potentially threatened by horticultural collecting. See Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 51:296 (1924) for original description, and Phytologia 66(4):326-327 (1989) for taxonomic treatment.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 3 July 2025].