Taxon Report

Eriogonum umbellatum Torr. var. torreyanum (Gray) Jones

Donner Pass buckwheat

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Eriogonum umbellatum var. torreyanum, commonly known as Donner Pass buckwheat, is a perennial herb in the Polygonaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Meadows and seeps, and Upper montane coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 1855 to 2620 meters. Eriogonum umbellatum var. torreyanum is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Eriogonum umbellatum Torr. var. torreyanum (Gray) Jones
Common Name:	Donner Pass buckwheat
Family:	Polygonaceae
Element Code:	PDPGN086U9
USDA Plants Symbol:	ERUMT
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial herb
Blooming Period: Jul-Sep	Jul-Sep
Elevation:	1855-2620 (6085-8595)
General Habitats:	Meadows and seeps, Upper montane coniferous forest
Microhabitat:	Rocky, Volcanic
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.2
Global Rank:	G5T2
State Rank:	S2
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	SB_UCSC; USFS_S
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	23
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	1
Good (B)	3
Fair (C)	1
Poor (D)	1
None (X)	1
Unknown (U)	16

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Nevada (NEV), Placer (PLA), Sierra (SIE)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Dog Valley (3912051), English Mtn. (3912045), Granite Chief (3912023), Independence Lake (3912043), Norden (3912033), Tahoe City (3912022), Truckee (3912032), Webber Peak (3912044)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	9
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	10	43 %
Insufficient population/stand size	3	13%
Other	3	13%
Logging	2	8%
Mining	1	4%
ORV activity	1	4%
Recreational use (non-ORV)	1	4%
Road/trail construction/maint.	1	4%
Development	1	4%
Foot traffic/trampling	1	4%

Notes



Known from approximately 20 occurrences. Similar to var. glaberrimum. Draft interim management guide prepared by USFS in 1993. See Fremontia 1(3):20 (1973) for discussion of rediscovery at type locality, and Phytologia 66(4):341-347 (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].