Taxon Report

Eriogonum ovalifolium Nutt. var. depressum Blank.

depressed wild buckwheat

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Eriogonum ovalifolium var. depressum, commonly known as depressed wild buckwheat, is a perennial herb in the Polygonaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Great Basin scrub (playas), and Playas, growing at elevations from 1725 to 1740 meters. Eriogonum ovalifolium var. depressum is ranked 2B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Eriogonum ovalifolium Nutt. var. depressum Blank.
Common Name:	depressed wild buckwheat
Family:	Polygonaceae
Element Code:	PDPGN084FF
USDA Plants Symbol:	EROVD
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial herb
Blooming Period: (Jun)Jul-Aug(Sep)	(Jun)Jul-Aug(Sep)
Elevation:	1725-1740 (5660-5710)
General Habitats:	Great Basin scrub, Playas
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:	On low mounds.

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	2B.1
Global Rank:	G5T4T5
State Rank:	S1
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:	changed from 2.1 to 2B.1 on 2013-06-12 added to 2.1 on 2012-08-23

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


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

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Lassen (LAS)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Pine Creek Valley (4012151)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	2
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	1	100 %
Foot traffic/trampling	1	100%
Grazing	1	100%

Notes



Discovered in CA by Vernon Oswald in 1998; known in CA only from Lassen NF. Rare in NV. Originally identified as var. purpureum; a similar taxon. Also similar to var. nivale. Not in TJM (1993). See Montana Agricultural College Science Studies, Botany 1(2):33-109 (1905) for original description.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

CRPR List Addition on 2012-08-23

Eriogonum ovalifolium var. depressum account for potential Species of Conservation Concern evaluation (2023)

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 19 November 2025].