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Project Noah Nature School
Sphaeralcea fendleri ssp
This spotting had pink flowers with five petals and five sepals. Colors range from orange, lavender, pink. Stamens and pistil bright yellow. Leaves vary according to subspecies, but all are alternate, simple, thick, palmately lobed or veined, with scalloped margins. Leaves can be elongated and narrow, shorter and wider at base, smooth or pubescent with small hairs. Leaves can also be crinkled as in this spotting. Plants can grow in clumps to 3 feet high and flower spring through fall.
Rocky soil, along roadsides, sun, partial shade. This specimen was found growing in the lava beds of Valley of Fire in New Mexico.
The main trait that differentiates S. fendleri from other Sphaeralcea species is the uncupped flower petals. They lay almost flat rather than cup like the typical globe mallow. The difficulty in identifying the S. fendleri species is the wide diversity of leaf shape. This specimen had very crinkled and gray pubescent leaves. Hence my reluctance to assign it to a subspecies.
Spotted on Sep 30, 2011
Submitted on Oct 14, 2011
1 Comment
What a beautiful Sphaeralcea. Thanks for sharing!