Scientific Family
Polygonaceae
Other common names
California buckwheat
flat-top buckwheat
Mojave buckwheat
yellow buckwheat
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
To 2 feet
Riparian
No
Low-spreading, compact, branching subshrub with narrow, leathery leaves and dense clusters of whitish or pinkish flowers. Attractive to bees and is an important wild nectar source used for honey production. Also attractive to butterflies.
Low spreading subshrub compact and branched with leafy stems and shredding bark; leaves with soft straight spreading hairs; sepals have silky-long soft hairs; flowers white to pink, central flower develops first, flower heads dense.
Habitat
Dry rocky slopes and flats, and along roads and washes.
Plant Community
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Disturbed Areas
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
1000
High elevation
5000
Flower Characteristics
Small whitish or pinkish flowers have similar tepals (sepals and petals), 1/8 inch wide, in slightly flat, dense clusters at the branch tips. They are slightly fragrant. Flower head bracts (involucres) are densely to moderately white, hairy.
Flower color
White to pink
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
February
Last bloom month
June
Flower clusters
Rounded
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves are small, narrow and leathery to 3/8 inch long.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Grayish-green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
The small fruits contain a single seed.
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit color
Brown to light brown