Eriogonum jamesii

Eriogonum jamesii
Conservation status
Secure (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Polygonaceae
Genus:	Eriogonum
Species:	E. jamesii
Binomial name
Eriogonum jamesii Benth.
Varieties
E. j. var. higginsii E. j. var. jamesii E. j. var. simplex E. j. var. undulatum
Synonyms
Eriogonum jamiesonii Eriogonum sericeum Eriogonum undulatum

Eriogonum jamesii is a species of wild buckwheat known by the common name James' buckwheat and antelope sage. It is native to the southwestern United States, being found in: Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Nebraska.

Taxonomy

Eriogonum jamesii was scientifically described and named by George Bentham in 1856. It is classified in the Eriogonum as part of the Polygonaceae family. It has four accepted varieties according to Plants of the World Online.

• Eriogonum jamesii var. higginsii – Endemic to Utah
• Eriogonum jamesii var. jamesii – Native to Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Sonora
• Eriogonum jamesii var. simplex – Endemic to Kansas
• Eriogonum jamesii var. undulatum – Native to southwestern US and northern Mexico

Eriogonum jamesii has a total of six synonyms between the species and varieties jamesii and undulatum.

Table of Synonyms

Name	Year	Rank	Synonym of:	Notes
Eriogonum jamesii var. neomexicanum Gand.	1906	variety	var. jamesii	= het.
Eriogonum jamesii subsp. typicum S.Stokes	1936	subspecies	E. jamesii	≡ hom., not validly publ.
Eriogonum jamesii subsp. undulatum (Benth.) S.Stokes	1936	subspecies	var. undulatum	≡ hom.
Eriogonum jamiesonii Ingw.	1934	species	var. jamesii	= het.
Eriogonum sericeum Torr. & A.Gray	1870	species	var. jamesii	= het.
Eriogonum undulatum Benth.	1856	species	var. undulatum	≡ hom.
Notes: ≡ homotypic synonym; = heterotypic synonym

Uses

The Navajo people have used Eriogonum jamesii as an oral contraceptive. Among the Zuni people, the root is soaked in water and used as a wash for sore eyes. The fresh or dried root is also eaten for stomachaches. The root is carried in the mouth for a sore tongue and then buried in a river bottom. The ground blossom powder is given to ceremonial dancers impersonating anthropic gods to bring rain.

References

Sources

Web sources

• Hassler, Michael (2 August 2026). "Eriogonum jamesii in the Synonymic Checklist and Distribution of the World Flora. Version 26.08". World Plants. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
• NatureServe (31 July 2026). "Eriogonum jamesii". NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
• POWO (2026a). "Eriogonum jamesii Benth". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
• POWO (2026b). "Eriogonum jamesii var. higginsii S.L.Welsh". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
• POWO (2026c). "Eriogonum jamesii var. jamesii". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
• POWO (2026d). "Eriogonum jamesii var. simplex Gand". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
• POWO (2026e). "Eriogonum jamesii var. undulatum (Benth.) S.Stokes ex M.E.Jones". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 25 August 2026.

External links

• description at the University of Maryland, College Park PlantSystematics.org
• images from Four Corners Wildflowers
• Plants for a Future entry