Taxon Report

Eriogonum umbellatum Torrey var. lautum Reveal

Scott Valley buckwheat

Print Report


©2007 Dean Wm. Taylor, Ph.D

Taxon Summary

Eriogonum umbellatum var. lautum, commonly known as Scott Valley buckwheat, is a perennial herb in the Polygonaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Cismontane woodland, and Lower montane coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 800 to 900 meters. Eriogonum umbellatum var. lautum is ranked 1B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.

  Classification
Scientific Name:
 Eriogonum umbellatum Torrey var. lautum Reveal
Common Name:
 Scott Valley buckwheat
Family: Polygonaceae
Element Code: PDPGN086UX
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History
Lifeform: perennial herb
Blooming Period: Jul-Sep Jul-Sep
Elevation: 800-900 (2625-2955)
General Habitats: Cismontane woodland, Lower montane coniferous forest
Microhabitat: Flats, Gravelly, Sandy
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status
CA Rare Plant Rank: 1B.1
Global Rank: G5T1
State Rank:
 S1
State List: None
Fed List: None
Other Status: SB_UCSC
CRPR Changes:
  • added to 1B.1 on 2007-06-25

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) 1
   Unknown (U) 1

Location
California Endemic:  True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Siskiyou (SIS)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Etna (4112248), Greenview (4112258), McConaughy Gulch (4112247)*

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 1
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
1 50 %
Development 1 50%

Notes
Known only from Scott Valley. 
Threats:
Severely threatened by housing development. Potentially threatened by horticultural collecting.
Taxonomy:
See Phytologia 86: 148 (2004) for original description.

Selected References

CRPR List Addition on 2007-06-25
Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 16 November 2025].