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| Eriogonum parvifolium |
| Family: Polygonaceae (Buckwheat) |
| Flowers — color: red, size: 1/8", type: 6 petals |
Redflower Buckwheat has a six-petalled flower, about 1/8" diameter. The pink petals may have a red stripe. Several white stamens extend above the petals.
The flower stalk rises several the plant base and branches multiply into a panicle. Its stems hold a spherical cluster with a hundred flowers, roughly 1.5" diameter.
Habit:
Redflower Buckwheat is a perennial evergreen herb. It grow as a rosette of elongated leaves on a short stems. Each leaf is heart-shaped and appears shiny. Side ribs extend from its central vein. This buckwheat tends to form a colony of adjacent plants. Note: California Buckwheat [E. grande] has a different habit with spiny leaves on spreading stems.
Native to the Channel Islands, now spread by gardeners, this specimen was probably introduced by locals. Open sunny areas east of Cabrillo HS. Four years after this photo, this plant was probably overcome by the manzanita to its right.