Sphaeralcea laxa Globemallow
PERENNIAL. Leaves are divided into three lobes, with wavy edges
and a scanty to dense covering of white star-shaped hairs. Leaf shape
is distinctive, but size and fuzziness are extremely variable depending
on growing conditions. Early-season plants in filtered shade have
large dark leaves. Late-season plants growing in dry sunny areas
have tiny leaves that are nearly white with thick fleecy hair. Pale
salmon-orange flowers have maroon anthers, bloom April-June. Plants
are more delicate loooking than S. ambigua or S. emoryi,
with thinner stems and sparser leaves and flowers.
FAMILY: Malvaceae (Mallow Family)
Sphaeralcea is easily recognized as a genus, since most
species have similar salmon-colored flowers and lobed, fuzzy leaves with
prominent veins. A few are easy to identify but several of the larger
species are very similar and often highly variable, especially in leaf
size and shape. They may require all information - flowers, leaves,
mature fruits, growth habit, and habitat/elevation - for identification.