Winged Buckwheat
Eriogonum alatum Synonym: Pterogonum alatum Family: Polygonaceae – Buckwheat Family Perennial herbs from a taproot; 11.8” to 3.9' (3 to 12 dm) tall Leaves: alternate and basal; simple; has hairs; 1.2” to 8” (3 to 20 cm) long, 0.12” to 0.6” (3 to 15 mm) wide Flowers: 0 petals; 6 yellowish to greenish petaloid sepals in 2 series, 0.06” to 0.11” (1.5 to 2.8 mm) long; 9 stamens; 1 pistil; 3 styles; small flowers in clusters Pollinators: other Eriogonum species are pollinated by bees Fruits: achenes with 3 wings Blooms in Arches National Park: April, May, June, July Habitat in Arches National Park: often in sand in desert shrub and pinyon-juniper communities Location seen: park road mile 0 to 2.5, Delicate Arch trail, north of Tapestry Arch, outside Arches National Park on Rough and Rocky Mesa Other: The genus name, “Eriogonum”, means “woolly knee” referring to the hairs located at the swollen joints of many species of this genus. The species name, “alatum”, means “winged” referring to the seed's wings. This family's scientific name, “Polygonaceae”, is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means "many" and “goni” which means "joint", a reference to many species that have swollen nodes or joints. |
Did You Know?
In the late 1800s, John Wesley Wolfe, a disabled Civil War veteran, and his son, Fred, built a homestead in what is now Arches National Park. A weathered log cabin, root cellar, and corral remain as evidence of the primitive ranch they operated for more than 10 years.