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Eriogonum nervulosum

(S. Stokes) Reveal

Snow Mountain Buckwheat

G2Imperiled Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
G2ImperiledGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.143009
Element CodePDPGN08440
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderPolygonales
FamilyPolygonaceae
GenusEriogonum
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-06-11
Change Date1986-10-22
Edition Date2025-06-10
Edition AuthorsD. Gries (1997), rev. A. Treher (2012), rev. Johnson, J. (2025)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent1000-5000 square km (about 400-2000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences6 - 20
Rank Reasons
Eriogonum nervulosum is a perennial herb that is endemic to northern California and grows only on serpentine rock outcrops in the southern North Coast Range. This species is known from nine extant element occurrences. Threats include energy development, mining, and off-road vehicle use.
Range Extent Comments
Eriogonum nervulosum is endemic to northern California in the southern North Coast Ranges in Glenn, Colusa, Lake, Napa, and Sonoma Counties (FNA 2005). Range extent was estimated using herbarium specimens, California Natural Diversity Database records, and Calflora observations collected between 1994 and 2025 (Calflora 2025, CNDDB 2025, GBIF 2025, RARECAT 2025).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium records, California Natural Diversity Database records, and Calflora observations collected between 1994 and 2025, it is estimated that there are nine occurrences rangewide (Calflora 2025, CNDDB 2025, GBIF 2025, RARECAT 2025).
Threat Impact Comments
Threats to Eriogonum nervulosum include off-road vehicle recreation, wind farm and geothermal development, and roadwork, though there is insufficient data to understand the severity of threats for this taxon (CNPS 2025). One occurrence is within the Knoxville off-road vehicle recreation area and another is located near The Geysers geothermal field.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Eriogonum nervulosum grows on serpentine outcrops, slopes, and barrens, predominantly within chaparral communities, occasionally within grassland or oak and conifer woodlands (FNA 2005, CNPS 2025).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandWoodland - ConiferWoodland - MixedShrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceousBarrensBare rock/talus/scree
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN2
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaS2Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
3 - Energy production & miningRestricted (11-30%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
3.3 - Renewable energyRestricted (11-30%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
4 - Transportation & service corridorsSmall (1-10%)UnknownUnknown
4.1 - Roads & railroadsSmall (1-10%)UnknownUnknown
6 - Human intrusions & disturbanceRestricted (11-30%)UnknownUnknown
6.1 - Recreational activitiesRestricted (11-30%)UnknownUnknown

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (1)
California (1)
AreaForestAcres
Snow MountainMendocino National Forest14,457
References (19)
  1. Bachman, S., J. Moat, A.W. Hill, J. de la Torre, and B. Scott. Supporting Red List threat assessments with GeoCAT: geospatial conservation assessment tool. In: Smith, V., and L. Penev (Eds). 2011. e-Infrastructures for data publishing in biodiversity science. ZooKeys 150:117-126. Version BETA. Accessed online: http://geocat.kew.org/editor
  2. Best, C., J.T. Howell, W. Knight, I. Knight, and M. Wells. 1996. A flora of Sonoma County: Manual of the flowering plants and ferns of Sonoma County, California. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento. 347 pp.
  3. Black, S. F., M. Sheperd, M. Vaughan, C. LaBar, and N. Hodges. 2009. Yolo Natural Heritage Program (HCP/NCCP): Pollinator Conservation Strategy. The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, Portland, Oregon. 68 pp.
  4. CalFlora. 2005. Information on California plants for education, research and conservation. Berkeley, California: The CalFlora Database [web application]. Available: http://www.calflora.org/. (Accessed 2005)
  5. CalFlora. 2025. Information on California plants for education, research and conservation. Berkeley, California: The CalFlora Database [web application]. Available: http://www.calflora.org/. (Accessed 2025).
  6. California Native Plant Society (CNPS). 2001. Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California (sixth edition). Rare Plant Scientific Advisory Committee, David P. Tibor, Convening Editor. California Native Plant Society. Sacramento, CA. x + 388pp.
  7. California Native Plant Society (CNPS). 2012. Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants (online edition, v8-01a). California Native Plant Society. Sacramento, CA. Online. Available: www.rareplants.cnps.org (Accessed 2012).
  8. California Native Plant Society (CNPS), Rare Plant Program. 2025. Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California, online edition, v9.5. Online. Available: https://www.rareplants.cnps.org (accessed 2025).
  9. California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB). 2012. RareFind Version 4 with dataset 9/1/2012 downloaded from http://www.dfg.ca.gov/biogeodata/cnddb/rf_ftpinfo.asp. California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento.
  10. California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB). 2025. RareFind Version 5.3.0. California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento.
  11. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2005. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 5. Magnoliophyta: Caryophyllidae: Caryophyllales, Polygonales, and Plumbaginales. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. vii + 656 pp.
  12. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2025. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2025).
  13. Hickman, J. C., ed. 1993. The Jepson manual: Higher plants of California. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA. 1400 pp.
  14. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  15. Little, C., and J. Gerlach. 2009. Yolo Natural Heritage Program: Draft Species Accounts.Available online: www.yoloconservationplan.org/yolo_pdfs/speciesaccounts/plants/snow-mountain-buckwheat.pdf. Accessed 19 December 2012.
  16. Munz, P.A., with D.D. Keck. 1959. A California flora. Univ. California Press, Berkeley. 1681 pp.
  17. <p>NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2025. Version: 2.1.1 (released April 04, 2025).</p>
  18. Serkanic, S., and A. Sims. 2018. Plant Species Evaluation Form: Eriogonum nervulosum (S. Stokes) Rev. Snow Mountain Buckwheat. California Native Plant Society. Online. Available: <a href="https://rareplantfiles.cnps.org/scc/IrisBracteataSpProfileSCC20180627.pdf">https://rareplantfiles.cnps.org/scc/EriogonumNervulosumSpProfileSCC20180125.pdf</a> (Accessed 2025).
  19. Skinner, M.W., and B.M. Pavlik, eds. 1997 (1994). Inventory of rare and endangered vascular plants of California. 1997 Electronic Inventory Update of 1994 5th edition, California Native Plant Society, Special Publication No. 1, Sacramento.