Sphaeralcea parvifolia

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Sphaeralcea parvifolia
Sphaeralcea parvifolia - Emily 01.jpg
Sphaeralcea parvifolia flowers photographed in Capitol Reef National Park
Status TNC G5.svg
Secure  (NatureServe) [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Sphaeralcea
Species:
S. parvifolia
Binomial name
Sphaeralcea parvifolia
Synonyms [2]
  • Sphaeralcea arizonica A.Heller ex Rydb. (1913)
  • Sphaeralcea marginata York ex Rydb. (1906)

Sphaeralcea parvifolia, commonly called small-leaved globe-mallow or small-leaf globemallow, is a species of plant native to the western United States in the Great Basin and Colorado River drainage. It is medium sized herbaceous species that has showy orange flower spikes. It is used in wildflower and dry gardens.

Contents

Description

Sphaeralcea parvifolia is a perennial plant with stems that grow straight upwards to as much as 1 meter (3.3 ft), but more often grows to between 15 and 40 centimeters (6 and 16 in). [3] The stems sprout from an underground branched, slightly woody structure called a caudex. [4] The surface of the stems are covered in short, fine white to yellow hairs. [3]

The leaves of Sphaeralcea parvifolia are egg shaped (ovate) with the widest part between the midpoint and base, but may also be nearly circular in outline, kidney shaped, or a shape halfway between a heart-shaped leaf and an egg shaped one. [5] Leaves may have smooth edges or have three to five shallow lobes. [3] They are gray to green in color and range in size from 1 to 5.5 centimeters long and 1.2 to 5.2 cm wide. [3] [4] The leaves emerge in the spring and die back in summer to conserve water and do not do much stem photosynthesis. [6]

Flowers

Though each flower is not very large the clusters are quite noticeable. [7] The inflorescence is a crowded and narrow panicle, [3] it has determinate growth on the branches of the flowering stem making it a thyrse. [5] Usually there is more than one flower at each node on the stem. [4] The tip of the flowering stem is not leafy. [3]

The flowers are most often orange or salmon colored, but may, very occasionally, be white or somewhat pink. [7] The five petals measure just 7-15 millimeters long. [4] [8] The stamens are numerous making a fuzzy center to the flower and forming a sheath around the style. [7]

The fruits are fused into an aggregate of 12 carpels into a wheel shape called a schizocarp. [3] The schizocarp will break into three or four pieces. [5] Each of the carpels will contain one gray or black seed and is formally called a mericarp. [3]

Sphaeralcea parvifolia is very similar to Sphaeralcea incana , Sphaeralcea munroana , and Sphaeralcea hastulata . The range of Sphaeralcea munroana overlaps with it in Nevada and Utah, but it has coarsely toothed leaf edges and stems that are more gray to green where Sphaeralcea parvifolia has more yellow to white short hairs on its stems. [9] Sphaeralcea hastulata grows to the south, overlapping with its range in Arizona and New Mexico. [10]

Taxonomy

Sphaeralcea parvifolia was scientifically described and named by Aven Nelson in 1904. It is classified in the globemallow genus Sphaeralcea and the mallow family, Malvaceae. [2]

Names

The species name parvifolia can be translated from botanical Latin as "small-leaved". [4] Likewise it is known by the English common name small-leaved globe-mallow or small-leaf globemallow. [7] [3] Similarly it is sometimes named the littleleaf globemallow. [8] Like other members of its genus is also simply called globe-mallow. [11]

Range and habitat

Sphaeralcea parvifolia grows in much of the Four Corners region of the United States west to the Sierra Nevada. They grow throughout the state of Nevada, most of Utah and Arizona, and the western portions of Colorado and New Mexico. [12] They also are found in Idaho, but listed as an introduced species in that state by Plants of the World Online. [2] It grows in especially large numbers in north-central and northern Arizona. [13]

It grows in amid salt desert shrub, blackbrush, sagebrush, and pinyon–juniper woodlands. [5] In addition it frequently grows alongside roads. [13] It grows at elevations of 1500 to 2100 meters. [3]

Ecology

Small-leaf globemallow is a host for the caterpillars of the common checkered-skipper along with many other plants in the mallow family. [14]

Cultivation

Small-leaf globemallow is used in xeriscape gardening and as a naturalizing plant. [15] It prefers productive soils rather than a barren soils. [16] It is winter hardy in USDA zones 5–10. [17]

Related Research Articles

<i>Abutilon</i> Genus of flowering plants

Abutilon is a large genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae. It is distributed throughout the tropics and subtropics of the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Australia. General common names include Indian mallow and velvetleaf; ornamental varieties may be known as room maple, parlor maple, or flowering maple. The genus name is an 18th-century Neo-Latin word that came from the Arabic ’abū-ṭīlūn, the name given by Avicenna to this or a similar genus.

<i>Sphaeralcea</i> Genus of flowering plants

Sphaeralcea is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family (Malvaceae). There are about 40-60 species, including annuals, perennials, and shrubs. Most originate in the drier regions of North America, with some known from South America. They are commonly known as globemallows, globe mallows, false mallows or falsemallows. The name of the genus is derived from the Greek words σφαῖρα (sphaira), meaning "sphere," and αλκεα (alkea), meaning "mallow."

<i>Malva moschata</i> Species of flowering plant

Malva moschata, the musk mallow or musk-mallow, is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae, native to Europe and southwestern Asia, from Spain north to the British Isles and Poland, and east to southern Russia and Turkey. Growing to 60 cm (24 in) tall, it is a herbaceous perennial with hairy stems and foliage, and pink saucer-shaped flowers in summer.

<i>Sphaeralcea incana</i> Species of flowering plant

Sphaeralcea incana, with the common names gray globemallow and soft globemallow, is a desert plant in the mallow family (Malvaceae).

<i>Malva acerifolia</i> Species of plant in the family Malvaceae

Malva acerifolia, also frequently known under the synonyms Lavatera acerifolia or Malva canariensis is a shrub endemic to the Canary Islands, belonging to the family Malvaceae.

<i>Malva alcea</i> Species of flowering plant

Malva alcea is a plant in the mallow family native to southwestern, central and eastern Europe and southwestern Asia, from Spain north to southern Sweden and east to Russia and Turkey.

<i>Sphaeralcea coccinea</i> Species of flowering plant

Sphaeralcea coccinea, commonly known as the scarlet globemallow, scarlet mallow, cowboy's delight, prairie mallow, red false mallow, or simply as globe mallow is a perennial plant growing 10–30 cm tall from spreading rhizomes with a low habit. They have grayish stems with dense, star-shaped hairs and alternately arranged leaves. The leaf blades are 2–5 cm long, palmately shaped, and deeply cut, with 3–5 main wedge-shaped segments. The undersides of the leaves have gray hairs. The 1–2.5 cm wide flowers are reddish-orange and saucer-shaped, with 5 notched, broad petals, in small terminal clusters. It produces numerous stamen which surround the pistils as a tube. Plants flower from May to October in southern regions and May to July in northern regions. The plant produces a dry "fruit" called a schizocarp, which after maturity, breaks into roughly 10 or more seed segments.

<i>Sphaeralcea ambigua</i> Species of flowering plant

Sphaeralcea ambigua, is a species of flowering plant commonly known as desert globemallow or apricot mallow, is a member of the genus Sphaeralcea in the mallow family (Malvaceae).

<i>Sphaeralcea gierischii</i> Species of endangered plant

Sphaeralcea gierischii, Gierisch's globemallow or Gierisch mallow, is an endangered species of flowering plant in the mallow family, Malvaceae. It is native to the western United States, where it is known only from Utah and Arizona. It was described in 2002.

<i>Montia parvifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

Montia parvifolia is a species of flowering plant in the family Montiaceae known by the common names little-leaf miner's lettuce, small-leaved blinks and small-leaved montia. It is native to western North America from Alaska to California to Montana, where it grows in moist to wet areas in several types of mountain habitat.

<i>Sphaeralcea angustifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

Sphaeralcea angustifolia is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family known by the common names copper globemallow and narrow-leaved globemallow. It is native to the southwestern United States as well as northern and central Mexico, where it grows in desert and plateau habitat. It produces many erect stems, approaching three meters in maximum height. It is woolly or felt-like in texture. The gray-green leaf blades are lance-shaped and measure up to about 5 cm long. They have wavy or slightly lobed edges. The leafy inflorescence bears several flowers each with five wedge-shaped orange petals just under 1 cm in length, and yellow anthers.

<i>Sphaeralcea coulteri</i> Species of flowering plant

Sphaeralcea coulteri is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family known by the common name Coulter's globemallow. It is native to the Sonoran Desert, its distribution extending from northern Mexico north into California and Arizona. It is an annual herb, its slender, hairy stems sprawling or growing erect to a maximum height near 1.5 meters. The thin, gray-green leaf blades are wide and short, heart-shaped or triangular in shape, and measure up to about 5 centimeters long. They have a few wide lobes along the edges which may have teeth or smaller lobes. The leafy inflorescence bears clusters of flowers each with five wedge-shaped orange petals around a centimeter long, and yellow anthers.

<i>Sphaeralcea emoryi</i> Species of flowering plant

Sphaeralcea emoryi is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family known by the common name Emory's globemallow. It is native to the Southwestern United States, California and Northwestern Mexico. It grows in desert habitat and sometimes disturbed areas such as roadsides.

<i>Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family known by the common name gooseberryleaf globemallow. It is native to the western United States, where it can be found in the Great Basin and surrounding regions. It grows in sagebrush, woodlands, playas, and the canyons of the upper Colorado River. It is common in disturbed areas, such as habitat recently cleared by wildfire.

<i>Sphaeralcea munroana</i> Species of flowering plant

Sphaeralcea munroana is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family known by the common names Munro's globemallow and Munro's desert-mallow. It is native to the western United States, where it can be found in the Great Basin and surrounding regions. It grows in sagebrush, desert flats, mountain slopes, and requires plenty of sunlight to thrive. This perennial herb produces erect stems up to about 80 centimetres (31 in) tall from a thick root system. It is woolly and gray-green in color. The alternately arranged leaves have triangular blades up to 6 cm long, usually edged with large lobes and a toothed margin. Flowers occur in clusters on a raceme-like inflorescence. The flower has five apricot to red-orange petals each just over 1 cm long.

<i>Sphaeralcea rusbyi</i> Species of flowering plant

Sphaeralcea rusbyi is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family known by the common names Rusby's globemallow and Rusby's desert-mallow. It is native to the southwestern United States, where it can be found in various types of desert habitat. The species is generally divided into three subtaxa which grow in separate sections of the desert southwest. In general, the plant produces hairy or woolly stems which can reach three meters tall. The leaves are lobed or compound. The flowers each have five red-orange petals up to 2 centimeters long.

<i>Abutilon parishii</i> Species of flowering plant

Abutilon parishii is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family known by the common names Parish's Indian mallow and Pima Indian mallow. It is native to Arizona in the United States and Sonora in Mexico.

Malva pusilla, also known as Malva rotundifolia, the low mallow, small mallow, or the round-leaved mallow, is an annual and biennial herb species of the Mallow genus Malva in the family of Malvaceae. Malva is a genus that consists of about 30 species of plants. This genus consists of plants named mallows. Mallows grow in many regions, including temperate, subtropical, and tropical areas.

<i>Noccaea fendleri</i> Western North American species of flowering plant in the cabbage family

Noccaea fendleri more commonly known as wild candytuft and alpine pennycress is a wildflower in the mustard family from western North America. It grows in mountains from northern Mexico to the northern United States. It blooms early in the spring and provides nectar to butterflies.

References

  1. NatureServe (2024). "Sphaeralcea parvifolia". Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 "Sphaeralcea parvifolia A.Nelson". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 La Duke, John (5 November 2020). "Sphaeralcea parvifolia". Flora of North America. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Heil, Kenneth D.; O'Kane, Jr., Steve L.; Reeves, Linda Mary; Clifford, Arnold (2013). Flora of the Four Corners Region : Vascular Plants of the San Juan River Drainage, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. St. Louis, Missouri: Missouri Botanical Garden. p. 647. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Welsh, Stanley L. (1980). "Utah Flora: Malvaceae". Great Basin Naturalist. 40 (1): 36. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  6. Comstock, J. P.; Cooper, T. A.; Ehleringer, J. R. (1988). "Seasonal Patterns of Canopy Development and Carbon Gain in Nineteen Warm Desert Shrub Species". Oecologia. 75 (3): 327–335. ISSN   0029-8549 . Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Welsh, Stanley L. (1986). Flowers of the Canyon Country. Salt Lake City, Utah: University of Utah Press. p. 64. ISBN   978-0-87480-486-7 . Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  8. 1 2 Epple, Anne Orth (1995). A Field Guide to the Plants of Arizona. Helena, Montana: Falcon Press. p. 153. ISBN   978-1-56044-314-8 . Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  9. La Duke, John (10 May 2024). "Sphaeralcea". Flora of North America . Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  10. La Duke, John (5 November 2020). "Sphaeralcea hastulata". Flora of North America . Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  11. McDougall, W. B. (1964). Grand Canyon Wild Flowers. Flagstaff, Arizona: Museum of Northern Arizona. pp. 151–152. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  12. Sphaeralcea parvifolia, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Profile, 22 August 2024
  13. 1 2 Kearney, Thomas H.; Peebles, Robert H. (1951). Arizona Flora. Berkeley, California: University of California Press. p. 546.
  14. Minno, Marc C. (1994). Immature Stages of the Skipper Butterflies (Lepidoptera: hesperiidae) of the United States : Biology, Morphology, and Descriptions (Doctor of Philosophy thesis). University of Florida. pp. 187–189. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  15. Busco, Janice (2010). Native Plants for High-elevation Western Gardens. Golden, Colorado: Fulcrum. p. 305. ISBN   978-1-55591-740-1 . Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  16. Hitchmough, James (2017). Sowing Beauty : Designing Flowering Meadows From Seed. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. p. 77. ISBN   978-1-60469-632-5.
  17. Cave, Janet; Brash, Sarah; Jordan, Jane, eds. (1995). Wildflowers. Alexandria, Virginia: Time-Life Books. p. 96. ISBN   978-0-7835-4104-4.