Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia
Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 40: 58. 1913.
Plants perennial. Stems erect, green or purple, (2–)6–10 dm, white-canescent or glabrate. Leaf blades green to gray-green or yellow-green, broadly triangular, 3-lobed or pedately divided, tips rounded or acute, 1.7–3.5(–9) cm, not rugose, base cordate to truncate, margins dentate or crenate, surfaces stellate-pubescent. Inflorescences paniculate, crowded, flowers solitary or clustered, tip not leafy; involucellar bractlets green to tan. Flowers: sepals 5–8 mm; petals red-orange, 8–15 mm; anthers yellow. Schizocarps truncate-conic to spheric; mericarps 10–12, 2.5–3.5 × 2–2.5 mm, chartaceous, reticulate dehiscent part 60% of height, tip rounded-acute, indehiscent part not wider than dehiscent part. Seeds 1(or 2) per mericarp, gray or black, glabrous or pubescent. 2n = 20.
Phenology: Flowering spring–summer.
Habitat: Dry, volcanic, rocky or sandy soil
Elevation: 100–2000 m
Distribution
Ariz., Idaho, Nev., N.Mex., Oreg., Utah, Wash.
Discussion
Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia is variable and may include S. fumariensis, S. gierischii, and S. moorei. Material of the latter taxa is limited and although select specimens can be attributed to each, the full morphological range of S. grossulariifolia can readily include these other taxa.
Selected References
None.