Taisha writes today’s entry:
Today’s photo is of Eriogonum compositum var. lancifolium, or Wenatchee wild buckwheat. It was taken by Thayne Tuason in the Wenatchee area of Washington, USA. Thanks Thayne for sharing!
Eriogonum compositum var. lancifolium is one of approximately 250 taxa in the genus. Wenatchee wild buckwheat is a perennial herb that is native only to eastern Washington, where it is uncommonly found in mountainous areas of Chelan, Kittitas, Okanagan, and Yakima counties. This taxon grows at elevations of 250-1900m (rarely to 2500m) in well-drained flats. In the wild, Wenatchee wild buckwheat blooms May through July, displaying a compound umbel inflorescence composed of many small flowers with a pale to bright yellow perianth. The lanceolate leaves are gathered basally on slender stems that reach 2-4 dm in height.
Great shot! I love all the the buckwheats.
Thank you very much for posting this! I love the photo, and it inspired me to do some reading about Polygonaceae and buckwheat in general (in contrast to wheat). A very enjoyable learning experience.
Such a BEAUTIFUL photo! WOW
What a lovely, dramatic photo. Makes those plants look like a forest of stately trees.
I’ve never heard of this member of the buckwheat family. It’s remarkable that it has such a small territory. I hope its habitat is not endangered. It’s an interesting plant.
Thanks, again, for such a great site.
Always a treat to see what’s posted.
Jess
Anybody know what it tastes like?
Thanks for the compliments on the photograph- please see my growing (pun intended)collection of native plants on Flickr using the link.
Though endemic, it isn’t a species I would consider imperiled, growing as seen here in an abandoned gravel pit. It also likes cliff sides & rocky areas unlikely to be developed or trampled.
Most of the North American wild buckwheats seeds, like their Asian counterparts, were harvested by Native Americans, roasted, ground & eaten. It would be tough I think to make a meal of the seeds though, & in most instances they would be better left to reseed other plants. Why we don’t make better use of the Eriogonum, treating it more seriously as a potential food crop for arid regions is beyond me though & I think we maybe should. It has fed people for thousands of years in Asia so why not? Just needs a few generations of good-old-fashioned selective breeding perhaps.