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Western Wetland Flora

Field Office Guide to Plant Species

Oregon Checker-mallow
Sidalcea oregana (Nuts. ex Torr. & Gray) Gray

JPG -- Species Photo JPG -- Distribution Map

Family: Mallow (Malvaceae)
Flowering: June-September
Field Marks: This large-flowered, showy species has pink to rose-purple flowers. It is further distinguished by the presence of a taproot, by star-shaped hairs on the stems and usually the leaves, and by its upper leaves much more deeply divided
Habitat: Wet meadows, along streams, marshes, sometimes in sagebrush.
Habit: Perennial herb with a taproot.
Stems: Upright, branched, up to 4 1/2 feet tall, usually with star-shaped hairs, sometimes glaucous.
Leaves: Alternate, palmately divided, the lower leaves deeply lobed, with each lobe again divided, the upper leaves more deeply lobed with narrow divisions, up to 4 inches across, with star-shaped hairs; lower leaves on long stalks.
Flowers: Many in a spike-like raceme, up to 2 inches across, pink to rose-purple; bracts usually absent; flower stalks up to 1/2 inch long.
Sepals: 5, green, united below, up to 1/3 inch long, the lobes more or less triangular, with star-shaped hairs.
Petals: 5, pink to rose-purple, free from each other, up to 1 inch long.
Stamens: Many, united with the styles of the pistils to form a column, the column hairy.
Pistils: 5, the filaments united with the stamens to form a column, the ovaries superior.
Fruits: Up to 1/8 inch long, veiny, with a very short beak.

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Page Last Modified: Saturday, 02-Feb-2013 06:28:39 EST
Menlo Park, CA [caww55]