Eriogonum pauciflorum: Pryor mountains, Montana

[Brian_W]

Greetings,

Eriogonum pauciflorum is widespread throughout the central Great Plains.  The typical form is a loose sprawling mat with small clusters of cream colored flowers.  In the Pryor mountains of southern Montana, there is a unique form that is much more compact in growth.  For a long time, this form was considered to be Eriogonum mancum do to its resemblance to that species.  I've donated seed from this unique form to the Eriogonum society http://www.eriogonum.org/.

As a comparison in growth, here is the dense silver mat from the Pryors:

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w362/townsendia/EpauciflorumPryors_zpsd4643fff.jpg

A photo of the typical form, here growing on a sandstone ledge:

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w362/townsendia/Epauciflorum_zpsb9bcef4b.jpg

There is a slight variation in flower color.  Pink and cream:


raspberry and white:


As the flowers age, they turn a nice rusty red:

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w362/townsendia/Epauciflorumpryors2_zps6bdbdecd.jpg

Brian

[Tim Ingram]

I meant to reply to these glorious photos of Eriogonum pauciflorum earlier. Is there anything else really like an eriogonum? The range of flower colours is extraordinary and that white foliage, well very special. I haven't yet joined the Eriogonum Society...

[McDonough]

My sentiments exactly Tim, those color forms of Eriogonum are all beautiful, love when they age to russet colors.  Clearly I must also join the Eriogonum Society.  Brian, that compact form is quite special, thanks for showing us the variation.  Are the three flowering forms shown all representing the Pryor mountain forms?  Seems that the Pryor Mts hold many special plants, judging from the Townsendia spathulata forms I've seen in forums and the web.

Brian, is the middle pink one you show us, the same photo posted previously as E. mancum at the topic in the link below?  I think it is.  You can use the Modify or Edit buttons on your own messages (buttons will be on the right hand side of your message), to regain edit-access to your messages, to update the name if you'd like. Also, it seems one of your images on photobucket went missing.
http://nargs.org/smf/index.php?topic=1078.msg18196#msg18196

[Brian_W]

Greetings,

Yes, all three photos of the flowering plants are from the Pryor mountains.  The photo from the link that I labeled as E. mancum is actually E. pauciflorum.  I posted that photo before the new flora of Montana was published.  I will update the old post.

The Pryor mountains are a very unique place with a wide assortment of unusual plants.  In the past 10 years there has been a lot of botanical work in the area, but it's still very rare for wild flower enthusiasts to visit it. 

[McDonough]

The Pryor mountains are a very unique place with a wide assortment of unusual plants.  In the past 10 years there has been a lot of botanical work in the area, but it's still very rare for wild flower enthusiasts to visit it. 

Is the Pryor Mountains area very difficult to access?  I found this link which has lots of information on the area, including the plants of the area.  Would like to visit some day.
http://www.pryormountains.org/welcome-to-the-pryors/maps/

[RickR]

Awesome, educational, interesting and beautiful, as are all you photos you share here.

  Thanks so much, Brian!

[McDonough]

Awesome, educational, interesting and beautiful, as are all you photos you share here.

Thanks so much, Brian!

Allow me to second that motion, you have posted some of the more outstanding plant and scenery photos I've seen, the Kelseya photos are totally intoxicating, thank you for posting them.  Love the orange and yellow lichens too!

[Weiser]

Brian the dense form is a very nice silver. I look forward to growing it.
I am led to understand that E. pauciflorum is commonly found growing on clayed slopes and knolls, is that consistant with your experiences in the Pryor Mountains?

http://mtnhp.org/ecology/Guide_Report.asp?elcode=CEGL005270
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ERPAP6
http://www.em.ca/garden/native/nat_Eriogonum_pauciflorum.html
http://nargs.org/nargswiki/tiki-browse_image.php?imageId=4374

[cohan]

Looks like a very nice plant to run across in any form, very nice flower colours too!

[Brian_W]

Thanks for the comments!

Mark,

Access to the Pryors isn't difficult.  However, the area is remote and completely undeveloped.  Also, some of the roads that lead up the canyons can be very rough (that's an understatement).  There is a growing interest in the Pryors, and along with it, a growing concern to protect the fragile habitats.  The Pryors are most famous for their wild horses, and the bulk of the people who visit go for that reason.  Despite the unique diversity of plants species, I still think it is rare for people to visit with that in mind.  On that note, I've been in communication with Panayoti and he has expressed an interest in doing a wildflower tour of the Pryors.  We will see what happens 

John,

In eastern Montana, E. pauciflorum is associated with heavy clay soils.  In the Pryors (south-central Montana), they grow in the shallow rocky soils of limestone outcrops.  The typical form is usually associated with soils derived from weathered sandstone.  Any clay soils in this area are usually dominated by Eriogonum brevicaule var. canum.  These plants have a growth form similar to E. pauciflorum and were once classified as a variety of that species.

Here are some view of the Pryors:

The red desert of the south Pryors.  This area receives less than 5 inches of precipitation per year yet hosts a remarkable array of plant species.

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w362/townsendia/southpryors_zps4678f968.jpg

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w362/townsendia/southpryors2_zps183f3398.jpg

The limestone outcrops of the west Pryors.  Eriogonum pauciflorum grows here along with an abundance of cushion plants.

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w362/townsendia/westpryors2_zps03685a5d.jpg

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w362/townsendia/westpryors_zps29319198.jpg

The high plateau of the east Pryors, overlooking BigHorn Canyon.

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w362/townsendia/EastPryors_zps843df238.jpg

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w362/townsendia/EastPryors2_zpsfa4890c6.jpg

Some youngsters 

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w362/townsendia/wildhorses_zps5e5c54dc.jpg

[Lori S.]

Looks like a great place.  Is there any public land?

Oops, guess I should have looked more closely at the map... Looks like there is BLM land and a recreational area.

[cohan]

Interesting to put some images to the place- I've really only known it from seedlists before..

[deesen]

Magnificent part of the world, thanks for posting.

[Weiser]

I will be trying it in a some what more acidic substrait, of decomposed granite/volcanic clay, and as insurance, also in a tufa bed. I don't feel it will adversely impacted in its performance. I have found Eriogonums in general to be quite forgiving and adaptable when it concerns the mineral make up of the planting medium.

You also mention Eriogonum brevicaule var. canum a locally endemic expression of this widespread and diverse species. It looks like a garden worthy variety in it's own right.

http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=250060201

[Brian_W]

Greetings,

Eriogonum brevicaule var. canum is an attractive plant that is particularly abundant in the Pryors.  It has the ability to thrive under very poor conditions and can be found on clay, limestone, sandstone, and shale based substrates.  It has the added bonus of blooming late in the season (July-November). Older plants often develop twisted trunks and branches, making them very picturesque.   I plan to collect seed from this variety next season.

Here are a few photos of E. brevicaule var. canum I took last summer:

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w362/townsendia/eriogonumbrevicaulepryors2_zps26d23857.jpg

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w362/townsendia/eriogonumbrevicaulepryors_zps3a13244a.jpg

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w362/townsendia/Ebrevicaulepryors3_zps87fa4635.jpg