Eriogonum umbellatum var. minus

I. M. Johnston

Bull. S. Calif. Acad. Sci. 17: 64. 1918.

Common names: Old Baldy sulphur flower
Synonyms: Eriogonum umbellatum subsp. minus (I. M. Johnston) Munz
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 5. Treatment on page 345. Mentioned on page 337, 349.
Revision as of 20:09, 24 September 2019 by FNA>Volume Importer

Herbs, dense, prostrate mats, 0.3–1 × 0.5–2 dm. Aerial flowering stems spreading, 0.2–0.8(–1.5) cm, tomentose, without one or more leaflike bracts ca. midlength. Leaves in tight rosettes; blade usually round-ovate, 0.3–0.8(–1) × 0.3–0.8 cm, densely lanate on both surfaces, margins plane. Inflorescences usually compact-umbellate; branches 0.5–2.5 cm, tomentose, without a whorl of bracts ca. midlength; involucral tubes 1.5–2 mm, lobes 1.5–2 mm. Flowers (2.5–)4–6 mm; perianth lemon yellow to yellowish red, becoming red to rose-red.


Phenology: Flowering Jul–Sep.
Habitat: Gravelly to rocky or talus slopes and ridges, sagebrush communities, montane to subalpine conifer woodlands
Elevation: (1800-)2400-3100 m

Discussion

Variety minus is a rare and localized taxon in the San Bernardino and San Gabriel mountains of Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. It is one of the more distinctive expressions of the species and is attractive in the garden. A Parish collection (Aug 1915, DS) supposedly from the San Jacinto Mountains of Riverside County is presumed to be mislabeled. This variety is closely related to var. bahiiforme.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
James L. Reveal +
I. M. Johnston +
Old Baldy sulphur flower +
(1800-)2400-3100 m +
Gravelly to rocky or talus slopes and ridges, sagebrush communities, montane to subalpine conifer woodlands +
Flowering Jul–Sep. +
Bull. S. Calif. Acad. Sci. +
Illustrated +  and Endemic +
Eriogonum umbellatum subsp. minus +
Eriogonum umbellatum var. minus +
Eriogonum umbellatum +
variety +