Sphaeralcea gierischii
| Sphaeralcea gierischii | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Malvales |
| Family: | Malvaceae |
| Subfamily: | Malvoideae |
| Genus: | Sphaeralcea |
| Species: | S. gierischii |
| Binomial name | |
| Sphaeralcea gierischii N.D.Atwood & S.L.Welsh | |
Sphaeralcea gierischii (Gierisch mallow, Gierisch's globe-mallow) is a rare 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.[1] It was described in 2002.[2]
There are only five known occurrences, with 90% of the population located within Mohave County, Arizona. It is threatened by open-pit mining for gypsum. The single occurrence in Utah is also threatened by off-road vehicle use and dumping.[1]
As of 2012, it is a proposed endangered species under the Endangered Species Act.[3]
Ecology
Sphaeralcea gierischii is a perennial plant. It produces clumps of dark reddish purple stems up to about a meter tall with a few bright green, lobed leaves. The flowers have petals up to 2.5 centimeters long. They are orange, or sometimes described as "grenadine".[1]
Associated species include creosote bush, blackbrush, saltbush, yucca, ragweed, ephedra, rabbitbrush, prairie-clover, James' galleta, cheesebush, Anderson's desert thorn, prickly pear, indigo bush, and cliffrose.[1]
The plant is nearly an obligate gypsophile, mainly limited to the gypsum soils of the Kaibab Limestone; it has also been seen on limestone soils. The gypsum is sought after and extensively mined in the area by a process that involves removing the top layer of rock, mining the gypsum-rich deeper layers, and filling the pit with the rubble of the top layer. This process is very destructive to the local habitat.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Sphaeralcea gierischii. NatureServe. 2012.
- ↑ Atwood, N. D. and S. L. Welsh. (2002). Overview of Sphaeralcea (Malvaceae) in southern Utah and northern Arizona, USA, and description of a new species. Novon 12(2) 159-166.
- ↑ Gierisch mallow (Sphaeralcea gierischii). US Fish and Wildlife Service Species Profile.