Sphaeralcea Explained

Sphaeralcea is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family (Malvaceae).

Distribution

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.

Taxonomy

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."^[1]

The leaves of these plants are spirally arranged, and usually palmate or toothed. Both stems and leaves are downy. Like other Malvaceae, the flowers are saucer- or cup-shaped, with the stamens joined into a column in the center.

Sphaeralcea species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Schinia olivacea, which has been recorded on S. lindheimeri.

Selected species

• Sphaeralcea ambigua A.Gray  - Desert globemallow
• Sphaeralcea angustifolia (Cav.) G.Don  - Copper globemallow, narrowleaf desertmallow
• Sphaeralcea australis Spegazzini - Southern globemallow
• Sphaeralcea bonariensis (Cav.) Griseb.  - Latin globemallow
• Sphaeralcea caespitosa M.E.Jones  - Tufted globemallow
• Sphaeralcea coccinea (Nutt.) Rydb.  - Scarlet globemallow, red globemallow, red falsemallow
• Sphaeralcea coulteri (S.Watson) A.Gray  - Coulter's globemallow
• Sphaeralcea digitata (Greene) Rydb.  - Juniper globemallow, slippery globemallow
• Sphaeralcea emoryi Torr. ex A.Gray  - Emory's globemallow
• Sphaeralcea fendleri A.Gray  - Fendler's globemallow, thicket globemallow
• Sphaeralcea gierischii  - Gierisch mallow
• Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia (Hook. & Arn.) Rydb.  - Gooseberryleaf globemallow, currantleaf globemallow
• Sphaeralcea hastulata A.Gray  - Spear globemallow, spreading globemallow
• Sphaeralcea incana Torr. ex A.Gray  - Gray globemallow, soft globemallow, azeentliini
• Sphaeralcea janeae (Welsh) Welsh  - Jane's globemallow
• Sphaeralcea laxa Wooton & Standl.  - Caliche globemallow
• Sphaeralcea leptophylla (A.Gray) Rydb.  - Scaly globemallow
• Sphaeralcea lindheimeri A.Gray  - Woolly globemallow
• Sphaeralcea munroana (Douglas ex Lindl.) Spach ex A.Gray  - Munro's globemallow, whitestem globemallow
• Sphaeralcea nutans
• Sphaeralcea obtusiloba (Hook.) G.Don
• Sphaeralcea orcuttii Rose  - Carrizo Creek globemallow
• Sphaeralcea palmeri
• Sphaeralcea parvifolia A.Nelson  - Smallflower globemallow, littleleaf globemallow
• Sphaeralcea pedatifida (A.Gray) A.Gray  - Palmleaf globemallow
• Sphaeralcea philippiana
• Sphaeralcea polychroma La Duke  - Hot Springs globemallow
• Sphaeralcea procera  - Luna County globemallow
• Sphaeralcea psoraloides Welsh  - Psoralea globemallow
• Sphaeralcea rusbyi A.Gray  - Rusby's globemallow, cutleaf globemallow
• Sphaeralcea subhastata
• Sphaeralcea sulphurea
• Sphaeralcea wrightii A.Gray  - Wright's globemallow^[2]

Formerly placed here

• Iliamna rivularis (Douglas) Greene (as S. acerifolia Torr. & A.Gray and S. rivularis (Douglas) Torr.)
• Phymosia umbellata (Cav.) Kearney (as S. umbellata (Cav.) G.Don)^[2]

External links

• USDA Plants Profile

Notes and References

1. Book: Quattrocchi, Umberto . CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names . IV R-Z . 2000 . Taylor & Francis US . 978-0-8493-2678-3 . 2529.
2. Web site: GRIN Species Records of Sphaeralcea . Germplasm Resources Information Network . United States Department of Agriculture . 2011-08-01 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20001119211700/http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?11360 . 2000-11-19 .