Scientific Family
Polygonaceae
Other common names
flatcrown buckwheat
skeleton weed
flat-toped buckwheat
skeletonweed
skeletonweed buckwheat
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Height
To 12 inches
Riparian
No
Generally widely spreading, without hairs, bracts scale-like; flower cluster bracts on stalks that are bent downward; flowers white to pinkish, without hairs, outer lobes generally heart-shaped, inner narrow.Â
Annual, rarely perennial, erect stems, branching unevenly, generally widely spreading; leaves basal, densely hairy on both sides; flower and sepals without hairs, flowers somewhat bell-shaped, petals white, light pink or dark pink, stems bend downward.
Habitat
Washes, roadsides, disturbed areas, on dry flats, conspicuous along roadsides.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Grasslands
Disturbed Areas
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
0
High elevation
5200
Flower Characteristics
Unevenly branched flower stems, generally widely spreading, without hairs, bracts scale-like, on reflexed stalks, flowers white to pink, without hairs, outer lobes generally heart-shaped at base, inner narrow.
Flower color
White to dark pink
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
0
Last bloom month
December
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves basal; stems usually hairy; leaves heart-shaped to nearly round, densely white-hairy, lower leaf surface less hairy, margins smooth; basal leaves, round to kidney-shaped, white-woolly below, very hairy above.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Round or oval
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit color
Brown to dark brown