FAMILIES OF PLANTS 
49 
Wyeth eriogonum (Eriogonum heracleoides) .—This species has slen¬ 
der, more or less tufted stems, which grow 8 to 20 inches high and 
are short-hairy. The oblong or lance-shaped leaves are mostly 
basal. Each stem bears at the end a cluster of pale yellow flowers 
subtended by a 6- to 8-cleft involucre of leaflike bracts, and usually, 
there is also, a whorl of small leaves or bracts near the middle of the 
stem. 
Sulphur eriogonum (Eriogonum umbellatum ).—The stems are 
somewhat woody near the base and much branched. The oblong 
Figure 33.—Sulphur eriogonum. Yellow. Photograph by Joseph S. Dixon, National 
Park Service 
or spatula-shaped leaves are 1 or 2 inches long and petioled. They 
are white-hairy below but smooth and green above. The yellow 
flowers are arranged in a simple umbel. The involucres of the indi¬ 
vidual flowers are deeply lobed and are usually turned back. This 
is one of our most common species. 
Eriogonum subalpinum is very similar to the preceding species but 
is more woody at the base, and the flowering stems are stouter and 
often 12 to 16 inches long. The flowers are pale yellow and become 
tinged with pink in drying. Found from middle elevations to 
timberline. 
