Southwest Colorado Wildflowers, Eriogonum

Eriogonums are attractive plants found abundantly in the Four Corners. Flowers are often showy, colorful, and long lasting.

The Eriogonum genus was named by Andre Michaux (1746-1803) in his 1803, Flora Boreali-Americana. "Erio" is Greek for "wool" and "gono" for "knee", referring, according to William A. Weber, to the "wooly leaves and swollen joints of the type species".

Eriogonum jamesii
Polygonaceae (Buckwheat Family)

Foothills, montane. Meadows, shrublands, woodlands. Summer.
Navajo Reservation above Teec Nos Pos, Arizona, June 24, 2006.

Eriogonum jamesii and Eriogonum umbellatum can easily be confused, but a careful look separates the two. Leaves on E. jamesii have more hair, are longer, and do not turn red as those of E. umbellatum commonly do. E. jamesii flowers are hairy and its flower heads branch. E. umbellatum grows at higher elevations in the mountains and is by far more common in the Four Corners area.

Bentham named this species in 1856. Edwin James was a highly respected long-time plant collector. (More biographical information.)

Eriogonum jamesii
Polygonaceae (Buckwheat Family)

Foothills, montane. Meadows, shrublands, woodlands. Summer.
Navajo Reservation above Teec Nos Pos, Arizona, June 24, 2006.

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Eriogonum jamesii