Eriogonum Phylogenetic Study (Project)

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is issuing a California Endangered Species Act and Native Plant Protection Act scientific, educational, or management permit pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 2081, subdivision (a), and California Code of Regulations, Title 14, section 786.9, subdivision (c) to Charles Boissavy (Permit No. 2081(a)-26-008-RP) for a project to collect Ione buckwheat, Irish Hill buckwheat, and San Nicolas Island buckwheat plant tissue, voucher specimens, and seed for a phylogenetic study investigating trait diversification and biogeographic adaptations in Eriogonum. Between 2026 and 2027, up to five leaves will be collected for DNA analysis from at least one population each of Ione buckwheat, Irish Hill buckwheat, and San Nicolas Island buckwheat. Additional populations may also be sampled, with up to five leaf samples collected from each population. Three to four involucres will be collected from each population for color analysis. Stem segments, flowers, and fruits (when present) will be collected from up to two individuals per population and preserved in liquid for morphological and anatomical analyses. One voucher specimen of Ione buckwheat and San Nicholas Island buckwheat will be collected from each population visited. Up to five percent of the available seed will be collected from visited Irish Hill buckwheat occurrences for long-term conservation storage at the California Botanic Garden seed bank. All leaf tissue will be silica-dried in the field prior to DNA extraction and analysis. Microscope slides of leaf tissue will be prepared for each taxon to compare micromorphology of leaves between taxa. Resulting data will provide an understanding of the diversification and adaptation of Eriogonum, relatedness and gene flow between populations, and genetic diversity to support species recovery and conservation efforts.