Taxon Report

Eriogonum ovalifolium Nutt. var. vineum (Small) Jeps.

Cushenbury buckwheat

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Eriogonum ovalifolium var. vineum, commonly known as Cushenbury buckwheat, is a perennial herb in the Polygonaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Joshua tree "woodland", Mojavean desert scrub, and Pinyon and juniper woodland, growing at elevations from 1400 to 2440 meters. Eriogonum ovalifolium var. vineum is ranked 1B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Eriogonum ovalifolium Nutt. var. vineum (Small) Jeps.
Common Name:	Cushenbury buckwheat
Family:	Polygonaceae
Element Code:	PDPGN084F8
USDA Plants Symbol:	EROVV
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial herb
Blooming Period: May-Aug	May-Aug
Elevation:	1400-2440 (4595-8005)
General Habitats:	Joshua tree "woodland", Mojavean desert scrub, Pinyon and juniper woodland
Microhabitat:	Carbonate
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.1
Global Rank:	G5T1
State Rank:	S1
State List:	None
Fed List:	FE
Other Status:	SB_CalBG/RSABG
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	34
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	5
Good (B)	8
Fair (C)	6
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	15

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
San Bernardino (SBD)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Big Bear City (3411637), Butler Peak (3411731), Cougar Buttes (3411647), Fawnskin (3411638), Onyx Peak (3411626), Rattlesnake Canyon (3411636)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	10
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	21	62 %
Mining	18	52%
ORV activity	11	32%
Road/trail construction/maint.	8	23%
Vandalism/dumping/litter	4	11%
Recreational use (non-ORV)	4	11%
Grazing	4	11%
Foot traffic/trampling	3	8%
Development	1	2%
Non-native plant impacts	1	2%
Wood cutting or brush clearing	1	2%

Notes



Threatened by mining, road construction, and vehicles. See Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 25:40-53 (1898) for original description, Fremontia 16(1):20-21 (1988) for discussion of mining threats, and Phytologia 66(4):335-337 (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 14 November 2025].