Taxon Report

Eriogonum giganteum Wats. var. formosum K. Bdg.

San Clemente Island buckwheat

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Taxon Summary

Eriogonum giganteum var. formosum, commonly known as San Clemente Island buckwheat, is a perennial deciduous shrub in the Polygonaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Coastal bluff scrub, growing at elevations from 10 to 455 meters. Eriogonum giganteum var. formosum is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.


  Classification

Scientific Name:
Eriogonum giganteum Wats. var. formosum K. Bdg.
Common Name:
San Clemente Island buckwheat
Family: Polygonaceae
Element Code: PDPGN082A2
USDA Plants Symbol: ERGIF
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial deciduous shrub
Blooming Period: Mar-Oct Mar-Oct
Elevation: 10-455 (35-1495)
General Habitats: Coastal bluff scrub
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Total Occurrences: 39
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 0
   Good (B) 0
   Fair (C) 0
   Poor (D) 0
   None (X) 0
   Unknown (U) 39
California Endemic:  True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Los Angeles (LAX)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
San Clemente Island Central (3211874), San Clemente Island North (3211885), San Clemente Island South (3211873)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 1
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
1 3 %
Development 1 2%

Notes

Possibly threatened by Navy activities. Feral herbivores removed from SCM Isl., and vegetation recovering. See Phytologia 66(4):318-319 (1989) for taxonomic treatment.
Threats:
Taxonomy:
Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 2 August 2025].