Taxon Report

Eriogonum microtheca Nuttall var. lacus-ursi Reveal & A. Sanders

Bear Lake buckwheat

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Eriogonum microtheca var. lacus-ursi, commonly known as Bear Lake buckwheat, is a perennial shrub in the Polygonaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Great Basin scrub, and Lower montane coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 2000 to 2100 meters. Eriogonum microtheca var. lacus-ursi is ranked 1B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Eriogonum microtheca Nuttall var. lacus-ursi Reveal & A. Sanders
Common Name:	Bear Lake buckwheat
Family:	Polygonaceae
Element Code:	PDPGN083WF
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial shrub
Blooming Period: Jul-Aug	Jul-Aug
Elevation:	2000-2100 (6560-6890)
General Habitats:	Great Basin scrub, Lower montane coniferous forest
Microhabitat:	Clay
Microhabitat Details:	clay outcrops

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.1
Global Rank:	G5T1
State Rank:	S1
State List:	CC
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	SB_CalBG/RSABG; USFS_S
CRPR Changes:	added to 1B on 2005-08-04

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	1
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	0
Fair (C)	1
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	0

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
San Bernardino (SBD)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Big Bear Lake (3411628)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	3
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	1	100 %
Development	1	100%
Foot traffic/trampling	1	100%
Recreational use (non-ORV)	1	100%

Notes



Known from only one small occurrence, with about 200 individuals as of 2003, at Bear Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains. Threatened by development. Not in The Jepson Manual. See Phytologia 86(3):137(2004) for original description.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

CRPR List Addition on 2005-08-04

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 5 November 2025].