Nowhere else in the WORLD can you see this

Yellowstone Sulfur Buckwheat

Eriogonum umbellatum var. cladophorum

The Firehole River drainage in Yellowstone National Park is the only place in the WORLD where Yellowstone Sulfur Buckwheat is found. Really, their Botanist told me. Amazing!

The specimen of Yellowstone Sulfur Buckwheat at the Yellowstone Heritage and Research Center

Today, while I was at the Yellowstone Heritage and Research Center for my regular ‘painting session’, I had the opportunity to paint the only specimen in their collection of Yellowstone Sulfur Buckwheat. How could I pass that up?!

Yellowstone Sulfur Buckwheat 9" x 12" oil on linen

The habitat of Yellowstone Sulfur Buckwheat is barren slightly geothermally influenced open areas. It is a conspicuous component of relatively dry plant communities adjacent to the Park’s thermal areas. The geographic range is highly restricted, having been found only from the Upper, Midway and Lower geyser basins to the vicinity of Madison Junction.

Yellowstone Sulfur Buckwheat growing in Yellowstone National Park
(the only place it is found in the whole world!)

close up of the flowers

close up of the leaves

Historical uses – The Lakota people traditionally used the annual wild buckwheat as an aid in the treatment of sore mouths in children, seemingly in association with teething (D.J. Rogers 1980). Leaves were used to stain buffalo and deer hides by the Kiowa (P.A. Vestal and R.E. Schultes 1939). Vestal (1952) stated that the species was considered a life medicine by the Navajo (Dine) people; it was used also for protection against witches.

Like I’ve said before, the information housed in the Yellowstone Heritage and Research Center is phenomenal! I am so fortunate to be able to paint there and ‘soak up’ all the information I can. In so many facets, Yellowstone is a truly amazing place.