Astragalus gilviflorus

Eriogonum flavum

Yellow Umbrellaplant

Flower Top (Styles)

Oro Lake Regional Park
27-June-2011

Note the three styles. They are commonly coiled together in the center of the flower, but they can be distinguished from each other in this photo. If you look carefully you should be able to count the nine stamens. Note the pubescence on the outside of the tepals.

Flavum: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species.

plants perennial; NOT [plants annual]

NOT [stem diffusely branched, the branches slender]

leaves hirsute above; NOT [leaves glabrous]

inflorescence a more or less dense umbel; NOT [inflorescence a diffusely branched raceme] (BF)

inflorescence a compound umbel; NOT [inflorescence a simple umbel] (FOA)

NOT [flowers in reflexed heads] (FOA)

inflorescence subtended by leaf-like bracts; NOT [inflorescence subtended by small, reduced bracts]

bracts ascending; NOT [bracts spreading or reflexed]

bracts linear; NOT [bracts lanceolate or oblong]

perianth pubescent at base; NOT [perianth glabrous]

Eriogonum: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus.

NOT [dwarf annual, leaves subopposite, calyx 3-parted, stamens3]

leaves without stipules

flower clusters subtended by an involucre

stamens 9; NOT [stamens 8 or fewer]

Polygonaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora leading to this family. Not all the answers lead to all members of Polygonaceae, but they all do lead to genus Eriogonum.

herbs; NOT [shrubs or trees]

land plants; NOT [water plants]

plants not parasitic on trees, rooted in soil or water; NOT [plants parasitic on branches of trees]

plants with stems or stemless, but with more than one pair of leaves; NOT [plants stemless with a single pair of large reniform leaves]

leaves alternate; lower ones sometimes opposite; NOT [leaves opposite]

leaves without stipules; NOT [leaves with stipules free or sheathing the stem]

leaves not compound and not very deeply divided; NOT [leaves compound or simple, but very deeply divided]

leaves not orbicular or reniform; NOT [leaves orbicular or reniform]

flowers colored; NOT [flowers small, numerous, greenish]

perianth segments 6, in two series; NOT [perianth segments 2-5]

stamens and pistils in each flower; NOT [stamens or pistils in separate flowers on the same plant]

fruit dry when ripe; NOT [fruit fleshy when ripe]