Eriogonum pyrolifolium

Eriogonum pyrolifolium (Shasta buckwheat, pyrola-leafed buckwheat, alpine buckwheat,^[1] alpine eriogonum, oarleaf buckwheat, or dirty socks^[2]) is a species of wild buckwheat. It is native to western North America, from British Columbia to the high mountains of California.

Eriogonum pyrolifolium
Eriogonum pyrolifolium (Wenatchee Mountains)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Polygonaceae
Genus:	Eriogonum
Species:	E. pyrolifolium
Binomial name
Eriogonum pyrolifolium Hook.

Description

This is a small woody perennial reaching a maximum height and width of about 20 centimeters, including its inflorescence. Its rounded or spade-shaped, woolly (sometimes glabrous), petioled leaves are located at the base of the plant; their resemblance to the leaves of wintergreens (genus Pyrola) gives the species its name. The wool on the leaves and petioles sometimes has a pronounced orange color. Clusters of flowers appear on stalks which may be erect or bend to the ground. The small hairy flowers are greenish-white or white to pink.^[1] At certain times during growth and blossoming this plant will emit an odor similar to sweaty, unwashed socks.^[2][3]

Habitat

Eriogonum pyrolifolium often grows on nearly barren dry rocky soil in sub-alpine and alpine locations, including extensive pumice and tephra slopes on Mount Rainier and other Cascade range volcanoes.

Gallery

• 
  Only plant locally on gravel, Mount Rainier
• 
  Orange wooly form
• 
  Dark pink flower form