Eriogonum pusillum - Torr. & A. Gray

The edible part is the seed [2-3]. Edible Uses & Rating: Puny buckwheat ranks as a low-to-modest wild seed food. Its seeds are edible, but the plant’s small size greatly limits harvest potential [2-3]. Taste, Processing & Kitchen Notes: Seeds can be treated like other annual buckwheat achenes: dried, winnowed, toasted, and ground. Because the yield is small, they are best used with other gathered seeds. Seasonality (Phenology): As an annual, it grows, flowers, and seeds after suitable moisture, often during spring and early summer in desert regions. Safety & Cautions (Food Use): Correct identification is difficult in the small annual Eriogonum. Use only mature seed from confidently identified plants [2-3]. Harvest & Processing Workflow: Gather dry seed heads in bulk only from dense stands. Dry, rub, winnow, and toast. Cultivar/Selection Notes: No cultivars are known. Look-Alikes & Confusion Risks. Very small annual buckwheats can be hard to separate. Mature flowers and involucres are needed. Traditional/Indigenous Use Summary: It belongs to the wider western dryland tradition of small buckwheat seed use [2-3].

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


Eriogonum pusillum (known as yellow turbans) has limited documented direct medical uses compared to other species in its genus, but it was historically used as a food source by Native American tribes. Key Details regarding Eriogonum pusillum: Traditional Food Source: The Kawaiisu people of southern California gathered the achenes (seeds) of this plant, which were pounded into a powder and either consumed dry or cooked into a mush.Ecological Use: It is a vital food plant for juvenile desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii). Related Species with Known Medicinal Uses. While E. pusillum specifically lacks extensive medicinal documentation, other Eriogonum species (wild buckwheats) are well-known for medicinal applications by Native American tribes: Eriogonum fasciculatum (California Buckwheat): Flowers have been used for bronchial ailments and as a cleanser for newborn babies. Leaves were used for headaches and stomach pain, and as a gargle for sore throats. Eriogonum umbellatum (Sulfur-flower Buckwheat): Used for colds, stomachaches, and as a poultice for rheumatism.Eriogonum microthecum: Used in the treatment of coughs and bladder problems, as detailed on PFAF.org. Note: Always consult a professional before using any plant for medicinal purposes.

Useful in natural annual wildflower communities. Ecology & Wildlife: Provides seasonal seed and nectar in dryland annual plant communities.

Special Uses