Eriogonum heracleoides (common names; parsnipflower buckwheat, whorled buckwheat, and Wyeth buckwheat) is a plant of western North America that has many flowering clusters which are usually cream colored, or off-white. It can usually be found in rocky areas, such as sagebrush deserts and Ponderosa pine forests. Parsnipflower buckwheat is in the genus Eriogonum and the family Polygonaceae, which is a family of plants known as the "knotweed family". It inhabits much of the western part of the United States and southern British Columbia.
Description
The parsnipflower buckwheat is an erect herbaceous perennial plant rarely more than 40 cm (15.7 in) tall. Its white, light yellow or sometimes pinkish flowers measure 4–9 mm (0.2–0.4 in). The leaves are arranged in loose rosettes, covered with soft hairs measuring 5–30 mm (0.2–1.2 in). The hairs feel woolly and matted, and cover both sides of the leaf. The flowers have one carpel (achene). Parsnipflower buckwheat has a whorled arrangement of leaves at midpoint of the stem. It blooms in early to mid summer. It attracts butterflies, bees, insects, and birds and is the host plant for several Palouse butterflies.)
