Eriogonum alatum, with the common names winged buckwheat and winged eriogonum, is a species of buckwheat.
The plant is native to the western Great Plains, the Southwestern United States, and Chihuahua state in México.
Taxonomy In 1853 Eriogonum alatum was scientifically described and named by John Torrey, placing it in the Eriogonum genus. Hugo Gross proposed moving it to Pterogonum in 1913, but this has not become the accepted classification. Together with its genus it is part of the Polygonaceae family and the species has two accepted varieties.
Eriogonum alatum var. alatum – Widespread from Wyoming to Chihuahua Eriogonum alatum var. glabriusculum – Native to New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma
Eriogonum alatum has eight synonyms, two of the species and six of variety alatum.
Table of Synonyms Name Year Rank Synonym of: Notes Eriogonum alatum var. brevifolium 1906 variety var. alatum = het. Eriogonum alatum var. macdougalii 1906 variety var. alatum = het. Eriogonum alatum subsp. mogollense 1936 subspecies var. alatum = het. Eriogonum alatum var. mogollense 1903 variety var. alatum = het. Eriogonum alatum subsp. triste 1936 subspecies var. alatum = het. Eriogonum alatum subsp. typicum 1936 subspecies E. alatum ≡ hom., not validly publ. Eriogonum triste 1875 species var. alatum = het. Pterogonum alatum 1913 species E. alatum ≡ hom. Notes: ≡ homotypic synonym; = heterotypic synonym
Uses Among the Zuni people, the root is eaten as an emetic for stomachaches. An infusion of the powdered root is taken after a fall and to relieve general misery.
References Citations
Web sources
External links USDA Plants Profile for Eriogonum alatum (winged buckwheat) BRIT.org: Native American Ethnobotany Database on Eriogonum alatum