Taxon Report

Eriogonum kennedyi Wats. var. austromontanum M. & J.

southern mountain buckwheat

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Taxon Summary

Eriogonum kennedyi var. austromontanum, commonly known as southern mountain buckwheat, is a perennial herb in the Polygonaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Lower montane coniferous forest (gravelly), and Pebble (Pavement) plain, growing at elevations from 1770 to 2890 meters. Eriogonum kennedyi var. austromontanum is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.


  Classification

Scientific Name:
Eriogonum kennedyi Wats. var. austromontanum M. & J.
Common Name:
southern mountain buckwheat
Family: Polygonaceae
Element Code: PDPGN083B2
USDA Plants Symbol: ERKEA2
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial herb
Blooming Period: Jun-Sep Jun-Sep
Elevation: 1770-2890 (5805-9480)
General Habitats: Lower montane coniferous forest, Pebble (Pavement) plain
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Total Occurrences: 40
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 3
   Good (B) 10
   Fair (C) 3
   Poor (D) 4
   None (X) 0
   Unknown (U) 20
California Endemic:  True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
San Bernardino (SBD)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Big Bear City (3411637), Big Bear Lake (3411628), Fawnskin (3411638), Moonridge (3411627), Onyx Peak (3411626), Rattlesnake Canyon (3411636)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 13
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
24 60 %
ORV activity 16 40%
Development 12 30%
Non-native plant impacts 9 22%
Recreational use (non-ORV) 8 20%
Road/trail construction/maint. 7 17%
Vandalism/dumping/litter 6 15%
Mining 6 15%
Non-native animal impacts 5 12%
Foot traffic/trampling 5 12%
Wood cutting or brush clearing 4 10%
Grazing 2 5%
Other 2 5%
Altered flood/tidal/hydrologic regime 1 2%

Notes

Threatened by vehicles, development, grazing, non-native plants, recreational activities, and road maintenance. See Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 51:295 (1924) for original description, and Phytologia 66(4):326-327 (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 3 July 2025].