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Western Wetland Flora

Field Office Guide to Plant Species

Streambank Wild-hollyhock
Iliamna rivularis (Dougl. ex Hook.) Greene

JPG -- Species Photo JPG -- Distribution Map

Family: Mallow (Malvaceae)
Flowering: June-August
Field Marks: This hollyhock-like plant stands 3-6 feet tall and has 5 white or rose, notched petals about 1 inch long. The 5- to 7-lobed leaves are coarsely round-toothed and heartshaped at the base.
Habitat: Along streams, in wet meadows, on moist slopes.
Habit: Shrubby perennial from thickened rootstocks.
Stems: Upright, up to 6 feet tall, hairy, with some of the hairs star-shaped (stellate).
Leaves: Alternate, simple, 5- to 7-lobed, up to 8 inches long, up to 6 inches wide, heart-shaped at the base, the lobes triangular, coarsely round-toothed, hairy.
Flowers: Few to several in axillary clusters and terminal racemes; bracts 3, narrow to thread-like, 1/6-1/4 inch long; flower stalks up to 3/4 inch long.
Sepals: 5, green, united below, 1/4-1/3 inch long, with star-shaped hairs.
Petals: 5, white or rose, free from each other, about 1 inch long, notched at the tip.
Stamens: Numerous, borne on a column, the column with star-shaped hairs.
Pistils: Usually 5 or more, the ovaries superior.
Fruits: Usually 5 or more, ovoid to ellipsoid, pointed at the tip, up to 3/4 inch long, densely covered with star-shaped hairs, each with 2-4 seeds; seeds minutely hairy.
Notes: There is variation in the size of the leaves.

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U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/plants/florawe/species/8/iliarivu.htm
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Page Last Modified: Saturday, 02-Feb-2013 06:28:01 EST
Reston, VA [vaww54]