Eriogonum ovalifolium var. eximium is one of matforming the high elevation varieties. This variety is commonly known as the Slide Mountain Buckwheat or brown margin buck wheat. It is restricked to the Carson Range along the border of Nevada and California. I have found it growing at elevations of around 8500'-9600' on lose disintegrated granite screes. Mature mats are commonly eight-ten inches across and 1/2-1 inch tall. The flowers are always creamy white-white and set right on top of the foliage.
This is one I have been growing in the garden for the last two years. It is a slow grower and keeps it's tight cushion characteristic in cultivation. However at my lower 4000' elevation the flowers are held about an inch above the foliage. In their native haunts they are pummeled by wind rushing up the slopes almost daily, on occasion in excess of 100mph.
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=250060440
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/img_query?rel-taxon=contains&where...
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?5936,5994,6138,6139
The first shot is of a very old plant in it's native habitat. It is about twelve inches across.
The second was taken of a young plant in my garden
The last shots are of mature plants in habitat blooming in early August of this year
