Plants 1-3 dm across. Leaf-blades elliptic or spatulate to oval, (0.3-)0.5-1.5(-2) cm; margins brownish. Scapes erect, 1-5(-7.5) cm, tomentose. Inflorescences capitate, 1-2.5 cm across. Involucres 3-10, 4-5(-6.5) mm. Flowers white to cream, 4-5 mm.

Flowering summer (Jun-Sep). Granitic sandy or gravelly to rocky or even talus slopes in sagebrush communities, and in montane conifer woodlands; 1750-2450 m; Calif., Nev.

Eriogonum ovalifolium var. eximium is known only from the Carson Range in Carson City, Douglas and Washoe Co., Nevada, and from the Job’s Peak area of Alpine Co., California. The Slide Mountain wild buckwheat approaches higher elevation populations of var.nivale in the Carson Range, and the edaphically restricted var. williamsiae from Steamboat Springs. In addition, there are a series of populations in Siskiyou Co., California, which approach var. eximium. At this time, the exact disposition of the northern California populations has not been made. On infrequent occasions, the distinct brown leaf-blade margins are lacking from individuals within an otherwise normal population. The variety is an ideal rock garden plant although it is slow to grow to the size seen in the field.

All the pictures have been taken in Siskiyou Co., California, around Medicine Lake, on Pumice Stone Mountain, on top of the northwest-trending shoulder, on July 1st 2014.

All the pictures have been taken in Siskiyou Co., California, around Medicine Lake, on Pumice Stone Mountain, on top of the northwest-trending shoulder.

All the pictures have been taken in Siskiyou Co., California, around Medicine Lake, on Pumice Stone Mountain, on top of the northwest-trending shoulder. With Mount Shasta in the background. July 1st 2014.