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Eriogonum giganteum

S. Wats.

Giant Buckwheat

G3Vulnerable Found in 2 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G3VulnerableGlobal Rank
MediumThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.133847
Element CodePDPGN082A0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderPolygonales
FamilyPolygonaceae
GenusEriogonum
Other Common Names
St. Catherine's Lace (EN) St. Catherine's lace (EN)
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 MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2017-09-12
Change Date2017-09-12
Edition Date1998-03-23
Edition AuthorsD. Gries; rev. R. Bittman and M. Martinez (7/98)
Threat ImpactMedium
Range Extent100-250 square km (about 40-100 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 80
Rank Reasons
Endemic to California, Eriogonum giganteum is known from 29-80 occurrences. It is known only from Santa Barbara, San Clemente, and Santa Catalina Islands. Feral herbivores, a previous threat to this taxon, have been removed from San Clemente Island and vegetation is recovering from a formerly depleted state. Eriogonum giganteum var. formosum is possibly threatened by Navy activities.
Range Extent Comments
California endemic, it only occurs on Santa Barbara, San Clemente, and Santa Catalina Islands (Skinner, 1997; Hickman, 1993).
Occurrences Comments
No more than 80 occurrences: seven for Eriogonum giganteum var. compactum, twenty-two for var. formosum, and an estimated number of less than 50 for var. giganteum. Only twenty-two populations have been observed recently (Bittman 1998).
Threat Impact Comments
Eriogonum giganteum var. formosum is possibly threatened by Navy activities (Skinner, 1997; Bittman, 1998).
Ecology & Habitat

Diagnostic Characteristics

Eriogonum giganteum can be characterized by leaves oblong-ovate, plane, 3-10 cm long; heads in dense compound cymes (Munz, 1974).

Habitat

Coast bluff scrub, usually rocky soils (Skinner, 1997).
Terrestrial Habitats
Shrubland/chaparral
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN3
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaSNRYes
Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL, Long-lived
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (2)
California (2)
AreaForestAcres
CamuesaLos Padres National Forest8,209
Santa CruzLos Padres National Forest21,182
References (7)
  1. Abrams, L. 1944. Illustrated flora of the Pacific states: Washington, Oregon, and California. Vol. 2. Polygonaceae to Krameriaceae. Stanford Univ. Press, Stanford, California. 635 pp.
  2. Bittman, R. 1998. Lead Botanist, California Natural Diversity Database. Unpublished notes on fifty rare plants of California for purposes of updating Element Global Ranking (EGR) forms. California Natural Heritage Division, Dep. of Fish & Game, Sacramento, California, U.S.A.
  3. Hickman, J. C., ed. 1993. The Jepson manual: Higher plants of California. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA. 1400 pp.
  4. 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.
  5. Munz, P.A. 1974. A flora of southern California. Univ. California Press, Berkeley. 1086 pp.
  6. Munz, P.A., with D.D. Keck. 1959. A California flora. Univ. California Press, Berkeley. 1681 pp.
  7. 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.