Taxon Report

Eriogonum kennedyi Wats. var. pinicola Rev.

Kern buckwheat

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Eriogonum kennedyi var. pinicola, commonly known as Kern buckwheat, is a perennial herb in the Polygonaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chaparral, and Pinyon and juniper woodland, growing at elevations from 1340 to 1950 meters. Eriogonum kennedyi var. pinicola is ranked 1B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Eriogonum kennedyi Wats. var. pinicola Rev.
Common Name:	Kern buckwheat
Family:	Polygonaceae
Element Code:	PDPGN083B4
USDA Plants Symbol:	ERKEP
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial herb
Blooming Period: May-Jun(Jul)	May-Jun(Jul)
Elevation:	1340-1950 (4395-6400)
General Habitats:	Chaparral, Pinyon and juniper woodland
Microhabitat:	Clay
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.1
Global Rank:	G4T1
State Rank:	S1
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	BLM_S; SB_CalBG/RSABG
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	4
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	2
Good (B)	2
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	0

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Kern (KRN)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Cache Peak (3511822), Emerald Mtn. (3511833)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	6
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	4	100 %
Development	4	100%
Non-native plant impacts	2	50%
ORV activity	2	50%
Other	2	50%
Recreational use (non-ORV)	2	50%
Road/trail construction/maint.	2	50%

Notes



Known only from the Sweet Ridge area. Threatened by wind energy development and vehicles. See Phytologia 66(4):326-328 (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 5 November 2025].