Taxon Report

Johanneshowellia puberula (S. Watson) Reveal

downy buckwheat

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Johanneshowellia puberula, commonly known as downy buckwheat, is a annual herb in the Polygonaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Pinyon and juniper woodland (carbonate, and sandy or gravelly), growing at elevations from 1300 to 2900 meters. Johanneshowellia puberula is ranked 2B.3, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Not very threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Johanneshowellia puberula (S. Watson) Reveal
Common Name:	downy buckwheat
Family:	Polygonaceae
Element Code:	PDPGN084X0
USDA Plants Symbol:	JOPU
Synonyms/Other Names:	Eriogonum puberulum

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	annual herb
Blooming Period: May-Sep	May-Sep
Elevation:	1300-2900 (4265-9515)
General Habitats:	Pinyon and juniper woodland
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	2B.3
Global Rank:	G4?
State Rank:	S1
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:	changed from 2.3 to 2B.3 on 2013-06-12

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


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

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Inyo (INY)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Tin Mountain (3611784), White Top Mtn. (3611774)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	0
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	0	%

Notes



Known in CA from only two occurrences in the Cottonwood Mtns. See Phytologia 66(4):383 (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 9 November 2025].