Sidalcea oregana
| Sidalcea oregana | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Malvales |
| Family: | Malvaceae |
| Genus: | Sidalcea |
| Species: | S. oregana |
| Binomial name | |
| Sidalcea oregana (Nutt. ex Torr. & A.Gray) A. Gray | |
Sidalcea oregana is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family known by the common name Oregon checkerbloom.[1] It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California to Utah, where it grows in a number of moist habitat types, such as marshes and meadows. The plant is somewhat variable in appearance, and the species is divided into a few subspecies; some authors also recognize varieties within subspecies. In general, this is a perennial herb growing to maximum heights well over one meter from a woody taproot. It is usually hairy in texture, the hairs thick and bristly toward the base of the stem. Most of the leaves are located low on the stem, basal or on long petioles.[2] Their blades are usually deeply divided into lobes (see image at left); upper leaves may be divided further into leaflets. The inflorescence is a dense or open spikelike raceme of many flowers. Each flower has five pink petals up to 2 centimeters long, usually notched at the end, and a central tube of reproductive parts (see flower closeup image).[3]
Subspecies spicata (spicate checkerbloom or bog mallow)[4] is widespread in meadows or streamsides of the California mountains[2] as high as 10,000 ft (3,000 m).[3]
One variety of this plant, the Wenatchee Mountains checkermallow (Sidalcea oregana var. calva), is a rare taxon endemic to the Wenatchee Mountains of Washington. It is federally listed as an endangered species.
Other rare subtaxa include ssp. eximia (coast checkerbloom), which is known from about ten occurrences in northern California,[5] and ssp. valida (Kenwood Marsh checkerbloom), which is also federally designated as an endangered species. It is known only from two marshes in Sonoma County, California.[6]
References
- ↑ "Sidalcea oregana". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
- 1 2 Norman F. Weeden (1996). A Sierra Nevada Flora (4th ed.). Berkeley CA: Wilderness Press. ISBN 0-89997-204-7.
- 1 2 Baldwin BG, Goldman DH, Keil DJ, Patterson R, Rosatti TJ, Wilken DH (2012). The Jepson Manual: vascular plants of California (2nd ed.). Berkeley CA: University of California Press.
- ↑ Karen Wiese (2013). Sierra Nevada Wildflowers (2nd ed.). Falcon Guides. ISBN 978-0-7627-8034-1.
- ↑ CNPS: ssp. eximia
- ↑ CNPS: ssp. valida