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Sidalcea hirtipes

bluff mallow, bristly-stem checker-mallow, bristly-stem checkerbloom, hairy-stem checkermallow

Henderson's checker-mallow, Henderson's checkerbloom

Habit Herbs, perennial, usually in colonies, 0.7–1.3(–1.8) m, not glaucous, with thick, rather woody taproot and coarse, elongate (cordlike) rhizomes 20–100 × 5 mm. Herbs, perennial, 0.5–1.5 m, not glaucous, sparsely hairy to nearly glabrous throughout, with woody taproot and short, thick, ascending rootstock, usually also with compact rhizomes to 10 mm diam.
Stems

several, scattered, erect, arising from rhizome apices, usually slightly hollow, densely, harshly bristly-hirsute, hairs stiff, pustular, simple, forked, or stellate, often 2–2.5 mm.

usually several, clustered, erect, usually purplish tinted especially near base, mostly unbranched, sometimes proximally hollow, base glabrous or sparsely hairy, hairs minute, simple or stellate, more densely scabrous distally.

Leaves

basal and cauline;

stipules linear-subulate, 6–8 × 1–1.5 mm;

petioles of proximal leaves 20–30 cm, 3 times as long as blades, reduced distally to 1/2 times as long as blades;

blades: basal and proximalmost orbiculate to reniform, shallowly 5–9-lobed, 10–15 × 10–15 cm, thick, base narrowly cordate, lobe margins coarsely crenate-dentate, apex rounded, surfaces coarsely hirsute, hairs stiff;

distal orbiculate, deeply palmately 5–7-lobed, incised ± to base, lobes sometimes lobed again, base cuneate, apex acute, deeply 2–3-toothed, surfaces long-hirsute or with 2–4-rayed, stellate hairs abaxially.

basal and cauline, ± fleshy;

stipules deciduous, often purplish, lanceolate to linear, 6–11 × 1–3 mm;

petiole often purplish tinted, those of basal leaves to 30 cm, proximalmost 3 times as long as blades, mid cauline 1–2 times as long as blades, distalmost to 1/2 times as long as blades and leaves subsessile;

basal blades orbiculate, unlobed or shallowly 5-lobed, 7–15 × 7–15 cm, margins crenate or dentate, ciliate, surfaces glabrous or sparsely hirsute, hairs sometimes forked, not stellate, mid cauline palmately 7–9-lobed, incised 1/2+ length, 7–12(–17) × 7–12(–17) cm, lobes cuneate, margins coarsely dentate to pinnatifid, apex toothed, surfaces: adaxial sparsely hairy or only on veins, ciliate, distal cauline leaves 3–5-parted nearly to base, lobes narrowly lanceolate to linear, margins coarsely dentate-laciniate.

Inflorescences

erect, spiciform to subcapitate, dense, calyces usually conspicuously overlapping in flower and sometimes in fruit, proximals usually long-pedunculate, unbranched or branched, 20+-flowered, 10+ flowers usually open on spike at same time, not interrupted, not 1-sided, usually to 8 cm, usually not elongate but sometimes slightly elongated in some populations and to 20 cm in fruit;

bracts paired or single, linear, distal undivided, proximal distinct to base, 6 mm, mostly slightly longer than pedicels.

erect, spiciform, dense, especially when young, sometimes elongate, calyces usually conspicuously overlapping in flower and sometimes in fruit, usually branched, 20-flowered, usually several to many open at same time, not 1-sided, 5–20 cm;

bracts purplish, lanceolate to linear, undivided, rarely 2-fid, 4–5 mm, longer than pedicels, shorter than calyx.

Pedicels

1–3(–5) mm;

involucellar bractlets absent.

1–4 mm, to 7–8 mm in fruit;

involucellar bractlets absent.

Flowers

bisexual or unisexual and pistillate, plants gynodioecious;

calyx often purple tinted, 9–11 mm, to 11–16 mm in fruit, margins ciliate, hairs 1–2 mm, surfaces finely stellate-hairy at base and with coarser, longer, simple and stellate hairs apically;

petals usually pale pink to rose-lavender, rarely white, slightly or not pale-veined, (9–)10–21 mm, pistillate often 9–14 mm;

staminal column 5–7(–10) mm, hairy;

anthers white;

stigmas 5–10.

bisexual or often unisexual and pistillate, plants gynodioecious;

calyx somewhat urceolate, 8–9 mm, to 10–12 mm in fruit, lobes strongly reticulate-veined, sparsely stellate-hairy or proximally glabrous, lobe tips usually purple, rarely green, margins ciliate;

petals bright pinkish lavender, drying deep purple, veins not paler, bases not white, pistillate usually 8–10 mm, bisexual (10–)15–20 mm;

staminal column 6–7 mm, hairy;

anthers white;

stigmas (5–)7 or 8(or 9).

Seeds

2.5–3.5 mm.

3 mm.

Schizocarps

7–8 mm diam.;

mericarps 5–10, 3.5–4 mm, glabrous or sparsely stellate-puberulent, roughened, prominently reticulate-veined, sides rugose and pitted, back less so, mucro 0.6–0.8 mm.

8–9 mm diam.;

mericarps (5–)7 or 8(or 9), 4 mm, smooth, glabrous (rarely sparsely glandular-puberulent), thin-walled, apical margins sharp-edged, not winged, back sometimes slightly wrinkled, mucro 0.8–1.3 mm.

2n

= 60.

= 20.

Sidalcea hirtipes

Sidalcea hendersonii

Phenology Flowering (Apr–)May–Jul(–Aug). Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat Prairie remnants, coastal bluffs, open shrublands, fencerows, meadows, usually mesic, basaltic soil Coastal marshes, sandy to boggy tidal areas, upper beach meadows
Elevation 0–200(–1200) m [0–700(–3900) ft] 0–50 m [0–160 ft]
Distribution
from FNA
OR; WA
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AK; OR; WA; BC
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Of conservation concern.

Sidalcea hirtipes is uncommon and known from Clatsop, Lincoln, and Tillamook counties in Oregon and Clark, Lewis, and Wahkiakum counties in Washington. Its elevation and habitat vary, and it seems as much at home on steep coastal cliffs as in more inland, historic prairies and mountain meadows. Populations can appear to be large because of the long-rhizomatous and clonal nature of the plants; they are few and local. It is threatened by grazing, loss of habitat, fire suppression, road construction and maintenance, and changes in hydrology. It is a candidate for listing in Oregon and has been listed as endangered in Washington. Sidalcea hirtipes is characterized by its coarse indument of bristle hairs, its generally compact spikelike inflorescences, its relatively few, large, erect, hirsute leaves, and, especially, its extensive, coarse rhizomes. The inflorescences in some populations are elongated in fruit; its range, hirsute indument, and thick leaves along with coarse rhizomes help to distinguish it from other species. Stem internode length varies depending on habitat, as in many other Sidalcea. Molecular data suggest a relationship among S. hirtipes and S. asprella, S. celata, and S. gigantea (K. Andreasen and B. G. Baldwin 2003).

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Sidalcea hendersonii is showy and distinctive; it has been confused with S. oregana subsp. spicata and with S. cusickii, to which it is similar and apparently closely related. Like S. cusickii, S. hendersonii generally has purplish tinted vegetative parts, compact inflorescences with flowers that are mostly open at the same time, and ciliate calyx lobes. Sidalcea hendersonii is generally considered vulnerable; the number of extant populations has declined in recent decades, especially in Oregon, where it is close to extirpation. It can be distinguished by its marshy seacoast habitat, its often hollow stems, its tendency to be glabrous, its dense, compound inflorescences, and its relatively large mericarps and mucro. It is the northernmost species of Sidalcea and is the one better adapted to brackish or saline marshes. Sidalcea hendersonii occurs from Douglas County, Oregon, to British Columbia, and a single specimen is known from Alaska.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Parent taxa Malvaceae > subfam. Malvoideae > Sidalcea Malvaceae > subfam. Malvoideae > Sidalcea
Sibling taxa
S. asprella, S. calycosa, S. campestris, S. candida, S. celata, S. covillei, S. cusickii, S. diploscypha, S. elegans, S. gigantea, S. glaucescens, S. hartwegii, S. hendersonii, S. hickmanii, S. hirsuta, S. keckii, S. malachroides, S. malviflora, S. multifida, S. nelsoniana, S. neomexicana, S. oregana, S. pedata, S. ranunculacea, S. reptans, S. robusta, S. setosa, S. sparsifolia, S. stipularis, S. virgata
S. asprella, S. calycosa, S. campestris, S. candida, S. celata, S. covillei, S. cusickii, S. diploscypha, S. elegans, S. gigantea, S. glaucescens, S. hartwegii, S. hickmanii, S. hirsuta, S. hirtipes, S. keckii, S. malachroides, S. malviflora, S. multifida, S. nelsoniana, S. neomexicana, S. oregana, S. pedata, S. ranunculacea, S. reptans, S. robusta, S. setosa, S. sparsifolia, S. stipularis, S. virgata
Name authority C. L. Hitchcock: Perenn. Sp. Sidalcea, 42. (1957) S. Watson: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 23: 262. (1888)
Source FNA vol. 6, p. 339. Treatment author: Steven R. Hill. FNA vol. 6, p. 334. Treatment author: Steven R. Hill.
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