Polygonaceae

Eriogonum pyrolifolium

Dirty Socks

Tuft of old and new leaves and erect flower stem, single root. Basal leaves greenish yellow, oval to egg-shaped, smooth or hairy above, white-haired below, with brown to green hairy petiole. Flowers in small crowded cluster with 2 linear bracts at base. Petals white or greenish white, aging to red or pink, hairy on outside, with purple anthers, unpleasant-smelling. Grows on sandy or pumice soils in high-elevation subalpine and alpine areas. Var. pyrolifolium has hairless foliage and is found on upper slopes of Mount Scott on Crater Lake rim.

• Rarity: Locally Common
• Flowering Time: All Summer
• Life Cycle: Perennial
• Height: 2--5 inches
• Habitat: Alpine, Subalpine, Dry Rocky Sites
• Found In: Crater Lake Np, Mt. Rainier Np, N Cascades Np
• Native: Yes