Shasta buckwheat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shasta buckwheat |
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| Eriogonum pyrolifolium (Wenatchee Mountains) | |
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| Genus: |
Eriogonum
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| Species: |
pyrolifolium
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Eriogonum pyrolifolium is a type of wild buckwheat plant. It has many common names like Shasta buckwheat, pyrola-leafed buckwheat, alpine buckwheat, and even dirty socks! This plant grows naturally in western North America. You can find it from British Columbia in Canada all the way down to the high mountains of California in the United States.
What Does Shasta Buckwheat Look Like?
Size and Leaves
This plant is a small, woody perennial. This means it lives for more than two years. It has a stem that is a bit like wood. The plant grows to be about 20 centimeters (about 8 inches) tall and wide. This measurement includes its flowers.
The leaves of the Shasta buckwheat are found at the bottom of the plant. They are shaped like a circle or a spade, which is like a shovel. These leaves are also very woolly. This means they are covered in soft, dense hairs, like a sheep's wool. The leaves have small stems called petioles that connect them to the main plant. They look a lot like the leaves of other plants called wintergreens (from the genus Pyrola). This is why the plant got its scientific name, pyrolifolium.
Flowers and Scent
The flowers of the Shasta buckwheat grow in clusters. These flower clusters appear on stalks. The stalks can stand straight up or bend down towards the ground. The flowers themselves are small and hairy. They are usually greenish-white or white, but can sometimes be pink.
One interesting thing about this plant is its smell! When it is growing and blooming, it can give off an odor. This smell is often compared to sweaty, unwashed socks. This is how it got one of its common names, "dirty socks."
