Eriogonum microthecum var. ambiguum
in P. A. Munz, Suppl. Calif. Fl., 61. 1968.
Subshrubs or shrubs, 0.5–5 × 1–8 dm. Stems: caudex absent; aerial flowering-stems 0.2–1 dm, mostly floccose. Leaves: blade 0.8–2.5 × (0.2–) 0.3–0.6 (–0.8) cm, densely white or reddish-brown-tomentose abaxially, floccose adaxially, margins rarely revolute. Inflorescences 1–5 (–12) cm; branches tomentose to floccose. Involucres 2–2.5 mm, tomentose to floccose. Flowers (1.5–) 2–2.5 (–3) mm; perianth yellow. Achenes 1.5–2 mm.
Phenology: Flowering Jul–Sep.
Habitat: Sandy to rocky soil, sagebrush and saltbush communities, pinyon-juniper and conifer woodlands
Elevation: (1100-)1900-3300 m
Distribution
Calif., Idaho, Nev., Oreg.
Discussion
Variety ambiguum occurs in eastern California, northwestern Nevada, and southeastern Oregon. In portions of its range, var. ambiguum appears to be little more than a yellow-flowered phase of var. laxiflorum. However, where the two occur together, intermediates are rarely found, and limited garden studies indicate that flower color is genetically fixed. Nonflowering specimens from southern Owyhee County, Idaho, have been tentatively assigned to this taxon.
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
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