Taxon Report

Eriogonum nortonii Greene

Pinnacles buckwheat

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Eriogonum nortonii, commonly known as Pinnacles buckwheat, is a annual herb in the Polygonaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chaparral, and Valley and foothill grassland, growing at elevations from 300 to 975 meters. Eriogonum nortonii is ranked 1B.3, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Not very threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Eriogonum nortonii Greene
Common Name:	Pinnacles buckwheat
Family:	Polygonaceae
Element Code:	PDPGN08470
USDA Plants Symbol:	ERNO2
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	annual herb
Blooming Period: (Apr)Aug(Sep)May-Jun	(Apr)Aug(Sep)May-Jun
Elevation:	300-975 (985-3200)
General Habitats:	Chaparral, Valley and foothill grassland
Microhabitat:	Burned areas (often), Sandy
Microhabitat Details:	often on recent burns

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.3
Global Rank:	G2
State Rank:	S2
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	BLM_S
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	36
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	2
Good (B)	5
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	2
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	27

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Monterey (MNT), San Benito (SBT)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Bickmore Canyon (3612152), Chews Ridge (3612135), Chualar (3612155), Hollister (3612174), Mount Johnson (3612153), Mt. Harlan (3612164), Natividad (3612165), North Chalone Peak (3612142), Rana Creek (3612145), San Juan Bautista (3612175), Soberanes Point (3612148), Spreckels (3612156), Topo Valley (3612141)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	10
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	14	39 %
Road/trail construction/maint.	6	16%
Development	2	5%
Foot traffic/trampling	2	5%
Grazing	2	5%
Improper burning regime	1	2%
Mining	1	2%
Non-native plant impacts	1	2%
ORV activity	1	2%
Recreational use (non-ORV)	1	2%
Wood cutting or brush clearing	1	2%

Notes



See Phytologia 66(4):376 (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 30 January 2025].