Subshrubs, spreading and matted, not scapose, 0.5-1.5 × 0.8-2.5(-3) dm, mostly floccose or glabrous, greenish. Stems spreading, with persistent leaf bases, up to 1/ 4 height of plant; caudex stems absent or compact; aerial flowering stems spreading to erect, slender, solid, not fistulose, 0.03-0.1 dm, floccose to thinly tomentose. Leaves cauline, 1 per node or fasciculate; petiole 0.1-0.15(-0.2) cm, tomentose; blade linear, 0.6-1 × (0.08-)0.1-0.2 cm, densely white-tomentose adaxially, glabrous and green adaxially, margins revolute. Inflorescences umbellate-cymose to cymose, compact, 0.5-1 × 0.5-2 cm; branches usually dichtomous proximally, otherwise with secondaries suppressed, floccose or glabrous; bracts 3, scalelike, linear, 0.5-1.5 mm. Peduncles absent. Involucres 1 per node, turbinate, 1.5-3(-3.5) × 1-2 mm, floccose; teeth 5, erect, 0.4-0.6 mm. Flowers 2-3(-3.5) mm; perianth white to pink or rose, glabrous; tepals connate proximal 1/ 4, dimorphic, those of outer whorl obovate, 1.7-2 mm wide, those of inner whorl oblanceolate, 0.8-1 mm wide; stamens slightly exserted, 2-3 mm; filaments pilose proximally. Achenes light brown, 2-2.5 mm, glabrous except for papillate beak.
Flowering Aug-Nov. Gravelly or rocky slopes of lacustrine silt, mixed grasslands, chaparral and oak-woodlands; 900-1100 m; Ariz.
Eriogonum ericifolium is rare and localized, known only from the Verde River Valley of Yavapai County. The species is distinctive, yet some plants appear to approach E. microthecum var. simpsonii. The heather-leaf wild buckwheat is considered a 'sensitive' species in Arizona and a candidate for federal protection.
Duration: Perennial
Nativity: Native
Lifeform: Subshrub
General: Herbaceous perennials, stems spreading or matted, to 30 cm long, with persistent leaf bases, caudex stems absent or compact, aerial flowering stems spreading to erect, slender, solid, not fistulose, to 1 cm high, floccose to thinly tomentose, or glabrous, greenish.
Leaves: Alternate or whorled, cauline blades usually 1 per node or fascicled, linear, 6-10 mm long and to 2 mm wide, densely white-tomentose below, glabrous and green above, with revolute (curling under) margins, petioles to 2 mm long.
Flowers: White to rose, the glabrous, flower-like perianth 2-3.5 mm long, tepals connate at the base, dimorphic, those of the outer whorl obovate, 1-2 mm wide, those of inner the whorl oblanceolate, to 1 mm wide, stamens slightly exserted, 2-3 mm, filaments pilose proximally, involucres subtending the inflorescences, 1 per node, turbinate, 1.5-3.5 mm long and 1-2 mm long with floccose surfaces and 5 erect teeth roughly 0.5 mm long, peduncles absent, inflorescences umbellate-cymose to cymose, compact, 0.5-1 cm long and 0.5-2 cm wide, the branches usually dichotomous proximally, otherwise with others suppressed, surfaces floccose or glabrous, usually with 3 scalelike, linear, subtending bracts 0.5-1.5 mm long.
Fruits: Achenes light brown, 2-2.5 mm, glabrous except for papillate beak.
Ecology: Found on gravelly or rocky soils or on slopes of lacustrine (ancient lake bed) silt, in mixed grasslands, chaparral and oak-woodlands, from 3,000-3,500 ft (914-1067 m); flowering August-November.
Distribution: Arizona only.
Notes: This species is apparently rare, and FNA has a very small elevational range for this species, possibly making it a good candidate for further study.
Ethnobotany: Specific uses for this variety are unknown, but other species in the genus have uses; plant used for severe pain in hips and back, hemorrhage, menstruation medicine, to expedite childbirth, for internal pains, especially stomach pain, general indisposition, syphilis, infusion of plant taken to shrink the uterus and reduce dysmenorrhea, infusion of flowers used as an eyewash, to clean out the intestines, infusion of flowers and leaves used as a mouthwash for pyorrhea, leaves, growing near the root, used as a physic, salve of dry leaves or leaf ash mixed with grease used for swellings, decoction of roots taken for diarrhea, heart medicine, plants used in steambath for rheumatism, stiff and aching joints and muscles, and shoots and seeds used for food, stems used to brush off spines on fruits.
Synonyms: None
Editor: LCrumbacher2012
Etymology: Eriogonum comes from the Greek erion, "wool," and gonu, "joint or knee," in reference to the hairy or woolly joints of some of the species of the genus, and ericifolium means with leaves like genus Erica.
