California Channel Island buckwheats are important components of scrub communities on the Channel Islands. A long history of overgrazing by introduced herbivores on San Clemente Island has contributed to scrub vegetation loss and population declines in 2 endemic island taxa, Eriogonum giganteum var. formosum and E. grande var. grande. Since herbivore removal, Eriogonum species, which are early colonizers of disturbed habitats, have been increasing across the island. These increases are thought to facilitate further recovery of the native flora because the shrubs act as nurse plants and improve the soil profile for other native species.