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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Wild buckwheats
| image = Eriogonum_umbellatum_1.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = [[Sulphur Flower]]<br/>''[[Eriogonum umbellatum]]''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| unranked_ordo = [[Core eudicots]]
| ordo = [[Caryophyllales]]
| familia = [[Polygonaceae]]
| genus = '''''Eriogonum'''''
| genus_authority = [[Michx.]] (1803)
| subdivision_ranks = [[Species]]
| subdivision =
Over 250, see text
}}

'''''Eriogonum''''' is the scientific name for a [[genus]] of [[flowering plants]], in the family [[Polygonaceae]]. The genus is found in [[North America]] and is known as '''Wild Buckwheat'''. This is a highly species-rich genus, and indications are that active [[speciation]] is continuing. It includes some common [[wildflowers]] such as the [[California Buckwheat]] (''Eriogonum fasciculatum'').

It came into the news in [[2005]] when the [[Mount Diablo Buckwheat]] (''Eriogonum truncatum'', believed to be extinct) was rediscovered.

==Importance for Lepidoptera==
''Eriogonum'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] (butterflies and moths). Several of these are [[phagy|monophagous]], meaning that their [[caterpillar]]s only feed on this genus, sometimes just on a single [[taxon]] of ''Eriogonum''. Wild buckwheat flowers are also an important source of food for these and other Lepidoptera. In some cases, the relationship is so close that ''Eriogonum'' and dependent Lepidoptera are in danger of [[coextinction]].

Monophagous Lepidoptera on wild buckwheat include:
* ''Apodemia mormo'' ([[Mormon metalmark]]) - feeds exclusively on ''Eriogonum''
** ''Apodemia mormo langei'' ([[Lange's metalmark]]) - only known from ''Eriogonum nudum'' ssp. ''auriculatum''
* ''[[Chionodes dammersi]]'' - feeds exclusively on ''Eriogonum''
* ''[[Chionodes luteogeminatus]]'' - only known from ''Eriogonum niveum''
* ''Euphilotes enoptes smithi'' ([[Smith's blue butterfly]]) - only known from ''Eriogonum latifolium'' and ''Eriogonum parvifolium''

==Selected species==
[[image:Eriogonum hirtellum 2.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Eriogonum hirtellum]]'']]
[[image:Eriogonum ursinum 3.jpg|thumb|right|[[Talus Buckwheat]]<br/>''[[Eriogonum ursinum]]'']]
[[image:Eriogonum wrightii var subscaposum 1.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Eriogonum wrightii]]'' var. ''subscaposum'']]
* ''[[Eriogonum androsaceum]]'' - [[Rock-jasmine Buckwheat]]
* ''[[Eriogonum arborescens]]'' - [[Santa Cruz Island Buckwheat]]
* ''[[Eriogonum cernuum]]'' - [[Nodding Buckwheat]]
* ''[[Eriogonum cinereum]]'' - [[Ashyleaf Buckwheat]]
* ''Eriogonum crocatum'' - [[Conejo Buckwheat]] or Saffron Buckwheat
* ''Eriogonum fasciculatum'' - [[California Buckwheat]]
* ''[[Eriogonum flavum]]'' - [[Yellow Buckwheat]]
* ''[[Eriogonum giganteum]]''
** ''Eriogonum giganteum'' var. ''compactum'' - [[Santa Barbara Island Buckwheat]]
** ''Eriogonum giganteum'' var. ''giganteum'' - [[St. Catherine's Lace]]
* ''[[Eriogonum grande]]''
** ''Eriogonum grande'' ssp. ''rubescens'' - [[Red Buckwheat]]
* ''[[Eriogonum heracleoides]]'' - [[Parsnip-flower Buckwheat]]
* ''[[Eriogonum hirtellum]]''
* ''Eriogonum inflatum'' - [[Desert Trumpet]], Bladderstem, Indian Pipe-weed
* ''[[Eriogonum latifolium]]''
* ''[[Eriogonum longifolium]]''
** ''Eriogonum longifolium'' var. ''harperi'' - [[Harper's Umbrella Plant]]
* ''[[Eriogonum molle]]''
* ''[[Eriogonum niveum]]'' - [[Snow Buckwheat]]
* ''Eriogonum nudum'' - [[Naked Buckwheat]]
** ''Eriogonum nudum'' ssp. ''auriculatum''
* ''[[Eriogonum nummulare]]'' - [[Kearney Buckwheat]] or [[Money Buckwheat]]
* ''[[Eriogonum ovalifolium]]'' - [[Oval-leaf Buckwheat]]
* ''Eriogonum parvifolium'' - [[Coast Buckwheat]], Dune Buckwheat or Cliff Buckwheat
* ''[[Eriogonum pauciflorum]]'' - [[Smallflower Buckwheat]]
* ''[[Eriogonum pyrolifolium]]'' - [[Pyrola-leaved Buckwheat]]
* ''[[Eriogonum salicornioides]]'' - [[Glasswort Buckwheat]]
* ''[[Eriogonum strictum]]'' - [[Blue Mountain Buckwheat]]
* ''Eriogonum truncatum'' - [[Mount Diablo Buckwheat]]
* ''[[Eriogonum umbellatum]]'' - [[Sulphur Flower]]
* ''[[Eriogonum ursinum]]'' - [[Talus Buckwheat]]
* ''[[Eriogonum wrightii]]''
* ''[[Eriogonum zapatoense]]''

==External links==
{{commonscat}}
* [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?5936,5994 genus treatment in the ''Jepson Manual'']
* [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=112045 Eriogonum in the ''Flora of North America'']
* [http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2005/05/24_buckwheat.shtml Mt. Diablo buckwheat rediscovered]


{{Caryophyllales-stub}}

[[Category:Polygonaceae]]
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