Redflower Buckwheat

In the flora area, Eriogonum grande is the insular phase of the E. nudum complex; var. testudinum Reveal is found on the mainland in Baja California, Mexico.

Subshrubs or herbs, much-branched and matted, not scapose, (1-)5-15 × 2-8 dm, glabrous, rarely floccose. Stems spreading to erect, with persistent leaf bases, up to 4 height of plant; caudex stems matted; aerial flowering stems erect to spreading, usually stout, solid or hollow, occasionally fistulose, (0.8-)2-6 dm, glabrous, rarely floccose.  Leaves basal or sheathing up stems 0.5-3 dm; petiole 5-20 cm, floccose; blade oblong to oblong-ovate, (1.5-)3-10 × (1-)2-6 cm, densely white-tomentose abaxially, tomentose to floccose to subglabrous and greenish adaxially, margins plane, occasionally crisped. Inflorescences subcapitate to cymose, (5-)20-100 × 4-50 cm; branches usually dichotomous, glabrous, rarely floccose; bracts 3-8 or more, leaflike, oblong to oblong-ovate, and 5-20 × 5-10 mm proximally, scalelike, triangular, and 2-6 mm distally. Peduncles absent. Involucres 1-3 per cluster, turbinate-campanulate to campanulate, (4-)5-7 × 3-6 mm, floccose to subglabrous; teeth 5-8, erect, 0.3-0.6 mm. Flowers 2.5-3.5 mm; perianth white to pink, rose, or red, glabrous; tepals connate proximal 4, monomorphic, oblong-obovate; stamens exserted, 3-6 mm; filaments pilose proximally. Achenes brown, 2.5-3 mm, glabrous.

Eriogonum latifolium Smith subsp. grande (Greene) S. Stokes; E. nudum Douglas ex Bentham var. grande (Greene) Jepson

Eriogonum grande is a species of wild buckwheat known by the common name redflower buckwheat. It is native to northwestern Baja California, as well as the Channel Islands of California. It is a mat-forming perennial herb producing tall, stout inflorescences of white, pink, or red flowers. Leaves are located mainly at the base of the plant and are wavy along the edges and up to 10 centimeters long.

There are three varieties of this species:

E. g. var. grande - Pacific Island wild buckwheat, redflower buckwheat - found on several of the Channel Islands E. g. var. rubescens - San Miguel Island buckwheat, red-flowered Pacific Island wild buckwheat - found on the northern Channel Islands E. g. var. timorum - San Nicolas Island buckwheat - rare and endemic to San Nicolas Island