Eriogonum fasciculatum

Bentham

Trans. Linn. Soc. London 17: 411. 1836.

Illustrated
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 5. Treatment on page 297. Mentioned on page 226, 231, 237, 298, 301.

Shrubs or subshrubs, compact to spreading or rounded and more or less erect, occasionally decumbent, infrequently scapose, (1–) 2–15 × 2–25 (–30) dm, tomentose to canescent, floccose, or glabrous. Stems sprawling or spreading to erect, often with persistent leaf-bases, up to 1/2 or more height of plant; caudex stems absent or matted to spreading; aerial flowering-stems erect to spreading, slender, solid, not fistulose, 0.3–2.5 (–3) dm, tomentose, canescent, or glabrous. Leaves cauline, 1 per node or fasciculate; petiole 0.1–0.3 cm, canescent; blade linear to linear-oblanceolate or oblanceolate, 0.6–1.5 (–1.8) × 0.05–0.4 (–0.6) cm, white-tomentose or canescent to subglabrous abaxially, tomentose or canescent and grayish, subglabrous, or glabrous and green adaxially, margins often revolute. Inflorescences cymose, infrequently cymose-umbellate or capitate, compact to open, occasionally flat-topped, 0.2–20 × 0.2–15 cm; branches dichotomous, infrequently absent, tomentose to canescent or glabrous; bracts usually 3, scalelike, triangular, and 1–3 mm, or leaflike, linear to oblanceolate, and 3–10 × 1–3 mm. Peduncles absent. Involucres (1–) 3–8 per cluster, turbinate to campanulate, 2–4 × 1.5–3 mm, canescent, pubescent, glabrous, or subglabrous; teeth 5, erect, 0.3–1.2 mm. Flowers 2.5–3 mm; perianth white to pinkish, glabrous or pubescent; tepals connate proximal 1/4, monomorphic, usually elliptic to obovate; stamens exserted, 2.5–5 mm; filaments subglabrous or pubescent proximally. Achenes light-brown to brown, 1.8–2.5 mm, glabrous.

Distribution

V5 587-distribution-map.gif

Ariz., Calif., Nev., Utah, including nw Mexico

Discussion

Varieties 5 (4 in the flora).

Eriogonum fasciculatum is a complex, polyploid series of variants that are generally distinct but often difficult to distinguish morphologically. Variety emphereium Reveal is confined to central Baja California, Mexico. The introduction of Eriogonum fasciculatum as a decorative roadside plant by the California Department of Transportation is resulting in hybrid populations involving E. cinereum. The aggressively weedy and (for Arizona) exotic variety foliosum is rapidly invading the native habitat of var. polifolium. Members of E. fasciculatum are food plants for several butterflies, notably the Bernardino dotted-blue (Euphilotes bernardino), lupine blue (Plebeius lupini), Mormon metalmark (Apodemia mormo), and Behr’s metalmark (A. virgulti). Probably the butterfly most commonly seen with the species is the nut-brown hairstreak (Satyrium saepium), which frequents plants in full flower. Eriogonum fasciculatum is also the most important native source of honey in California.

This widespread species was used extensively by Native Americans for a variety of ailments. Its application for pain and headaches (D. P. Barrows 1900; K. Hedges 1986; E. W. Voegelin 1938) was rather common, as was its general use for diarrhea (Hedges; Voegelin). M. L. Zigmond (1981) reported that the Kawaiisu lined their acorn granaries with leaves of var. proliferum to keep out rain—a daunting challenge given the size of the leaves! L. Hinton (1975) reported the use of a decoction of dried flowers and roots to maintain a healthy heart, and M. C. Stevenson (1915) indicated that a powder derived from the roots was used by the Zuñi to treat wounds, whereas a root decoction was taken for colds and hoarseness. B. R. Bocek (1984) reported that the Costanoan Indians of California used a decoction of the plant to treat unspecified urinary problems. F. H. Elmore (1943) reported the use of a decoction of var. proliferum by the Navajo (Diné) people as an anti-witchcraft medicine.

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Leaves thinly white-tomentose abaxially, glabrous adaxially; perianths and involucres mostly glabrous; plants usually decumbent; primarily coastal 80c. Eriogonum fasciculatum var. fasciculatum > 1
1 Leaves, perianths, and involucres pubescent or, if subglabrous, then plants of desert regions; plants erect to rounded; generally inland > 2
2 Leaves light yellow-green, subglabrous adaxially; involucres and perianths glabrous or subglabrous Eriogonum fasciculatum var. flavoviride
2 Leaves dark green or grayish, usually pubescent adaxially; involucres and perianths pubescent > 3
3 Inflorescences capitate to cymose-umbellate, rarely cymose; leaves canescent on both surfaces or densely tomentose abaxially and canescent adaxially; leaf margins plane or infrequently revolute; mainly deserts Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium
3 Inflorescences open and mostly cymose; leaves densely white-tomentose abaxially, less so to green and floccose adaxially; leaf margins usually tightly revolute; mainly inner coastal foothills Eriogonum fasciculatum var. foliolosum

"dm" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property."dm" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property."dm" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property."dm" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property.

... more about "Eriogonum fasciculatum"
light-brown;brown +
included +  and exserted +
3-gonous +
usually red +  and cream or yellow +
oblong +  and ellipsoid or oval +
acute;obtuse or rounded +
James L. Reveal +
Bentham +
deciduous +  and persistent +
stipelike +
Undefined subg. Eucycla +
papillate +
awn-tipped +  and simple +
1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br /> (1.8 cm18 mm <br />0.018 m <br />) +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br />) +
green +  and grayish +
0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br /> (1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br />) +
glabrous +, subglabrous +, canescent +  and subglabrous abaxially +
linear;linear-oblanceolate or oblanceolate +
0.05 cm0.5 mm <br />5.0e-4 m <br /> (0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br />) +
not awn-tipped +
leaflike +  and semileaflike +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br />) +
glandular +, pubescent +  and glabrous +
linear +  and oblanceolate +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
not brittle +
spreading +  and erect +
tomentose +  and canescent or glabrous +
scabrellous +
ridged +, angled +  and round +
whorled +, opposite +  and alternate +
Ariz. +, Calif. +, Nev. +, Utah +  and including nw Mexico +
pubescent +  and subglabrous +
unisexual +, , +  and bisexual +
not attenuate +
0.25 cm2.5 mm <br />0.0025 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
decumbent to erect +  and prostrate +
not fistulose +
unwinged +  and winged +
black +, red +, brown +  and yellowish +
exserted +  and included +
pubescent +  and glabrous +
spheroidal +, 4-gonous +, lenticular +, biconvex +, discoid +, 3-gonous +  and 2-gonous +
reduced +
capitate compact +  and open +
capitate +  and subcapitate +
dense +  and diffuse +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (20 cm200 mm <br />0.2 m <br />) +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (15 cm150 mm <br />0.15 m <br />) +
connate +  and free +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br />) +
subglabrous +, glabrous +, pubescent +  and canescent +
turbinate +  and campanulate +
nonmembranous +
0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
in whorls +, opposite +, alternate +  and rosulate +
persistent +
bractlike +
pubescent +  and glabrous +
lobed +, undulate +, crisped +, crenulate +  and entire +
not swollen +
orthotropous +
accrescent +
curved +  and straight +
erect to deflexed +
white;pinkish +
pubescent +  and glabrous +
cylindric +  and urceolate +
accrescent +
fleshy +, indurate +  and membranous +
with extrafloral nectaries +  and not articulate +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
homostylous +  and 3-carpellate +
Trans. Linn. Soc. London +
, +  and solid +
slender;stout +
persistent +
Illustrated +
0.25 cm2.5 mm <br />0.0025 m <br /> (0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br />) +
decumbent to erect +  and prostrate +
spreading +  and erect +
glandular +, pubescent +  and glabrous +
penicillate +, fimbriate +  and capitate +
deciduous +  and persistent +
2-lobed +  and cylindric +
coriaceous +  and membranous +
consisting of a series +  and tubular +
distinct +
erect;spreading or recurved +
spreading;erect +
chambered +  and solid +
slender +  and stout +
Eriogonum fasciculatum +
Eriogonum subg. Eucycla +
species +
emarginate +  and entire +
0 +  and 1/2 +
usually elliptic +  and obovate +
coriaceous +
0.03 cm0.3 mm <br />3.0e-4 m <br /> (0.12 cm1.2 mm <br />0.0012 m <br />) +
persistent +
membranous +
pubescent +  and glabrous +
plant +, subshrub +  and shrub +
erect;spreading;erect;spreading +
tomentose +  and canescent floccose or glabrous +
synoecious +, monocarpic +, polycarpic +  and , +
3 +, 2 +  and 1 +