About Eriogonum caespitosum Nutt.
Eriogonum caespitosum Nutt. is a tough perennial plant that grows in flat, woody mats on sand and gravel substrates. It produces small, fuzzy gray leaves that are less than 2.5 centimeters (1 inch) long. The edges of the leaves are rolled, giving the leaves a scoop-like shape. In early summer, short stalks grow out from the mat, bearing inflorescences made of rounded clusters of greenish-yellow and whitish flowers. As the flowers age, they turn red and curve backwards over the edge of the involucre. This species is dioecious. Some of its flowers are bisexual, reaching up to 1 centimeter wide each, while others are only staminate and much smaller. This common perennial is native to the western United States, ranging from California to Montana, and is especially common in the Great Basin. It prefers growing at middle and high elevations, in habitats ranging from shrub-steppe to rocky environments. It is cultivated for use as a rock garden plant.
