Sphaeralcea fendleri

Sphaeralcea fendleri Gray

by Lisa Taylor, Native Plants Class 2002
Common names: Fendler's globemallow, Thicket globemallow
Family: Malvaceae
Synonymy:
Etymology: The genus Sphaeralcea means, "globe marshmallow" (5) and the specific epithet fendleri is in honor of August Fendler (1813-1883), a German-born naturalist and one of the first botanists to collect in Texas, New Mexico and Venezuela (3).

Identification
Growth form: Fendler's globemallow can vary in size and height (up to 3'), resembling a tall herb or forb to a many-branched, low, sub-shrub or shrub (6).
Roots:
Stem: Branched, somewhat woody and pubescent (7, 4).
Leaves: The leaves are alternate, simple, thick, palmately lobed or veined, with scalloped margins (7, 4). They can appear yellow- or gray-green with fine, white, star-shaped hairs.
Inflorescence/flowers: Inflorescences are flower clusters on the upper stems (4). All Sphaeralcea species have brightly colored, regular flowers with 5 petals and 5 sepals. The petals are orange to red to lavender and ~1"-1.5" wide (7, 4, 5). As with all mallows, the most distinctive feature is the numerous, united stamen filaments that surround the pistil in a column (5, 4). The ovary of the mallows is superior with 5-many carpels (4).
Fruit: The fruit is a spherical, dehiscent, pie-shaped capsule that splits into segments (4).
Similar species: Sphaeralcea fendleri has 5 subspecies that occur in Arizona. These include ssp. albescens, ssp. elongata, ssp. fendleri, ssp. tripartite, and spp. venusta (6).

Ecology
Life history: Fendler's globemallow is a perennial (7, 4, 5).
Native/introduced: Native (7, 4, 5).
Photosynthetic pathway:
Phenology:
Distribution: Mallows are common along roadsides and in rangelands throughout the United States (7). Sphaeralcea is a common genus in the Southwest, and all 5 subspecies of Fendler's globemallow are found in Arizona. Some subspecies are also found in NM, Texas, Nevada and California (6).

Uses
Wildlife: The genus Sphaeralcea has been identified as an important food source for Desert Bighorn Sheep (2). The seeds are large and probably browsed by rodent granivores.
Other: The mucilaginous compounds of this family are said to soothe skin irritations and may aid in soothing sore throats and coughs. Other members of this family and genus can be used as a skin and hair conditioner as well and have a number of uses to include fiber and vegetable foods. The mallow family is generally high nutrient quality, yet most species in this family are not considered important forage plants (1).

References
1. Coon, N. 1974. The dictionary of useful plants. Rodale Press, Emmaus, USA.

2. DeYoung, R.W., E.C. Hellgren, T.E. Fulbright, W.F. Robbins, Jr., I.D. Humphreys. 2000. Modeling nutritional carrying capacity for translocated Desert Bighorn Sheep in western Texas. Restoration Ecology 8:57.

3. Elmore, F.H. 1976. Shrubs and trees of the Southwest uplands. Southwest Parks and Monuments Association, Tucson, USA.

4. Epple, A.O. 1995. A field guide to the plants of Arizona. The Globe Pequot Press, Guilford, USA.

5. Leake, D. V., J.B. Leake and M.L. Roeder. 1993. Desert and mountain plants of the Southwest. University of Oklahoma Press, Normon, USA.

6. USDA, NRCS. 2002. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

7. Whitson, T.D. [ed]. 1996. Weeds of the west, fifth edition. Pioneer of Jackson Hole, Jackson, USA.

Sphaeralcea fendleri Gray by Lisa Taylor, Native Plants Class 2002 Common names: Fendler's globemallow, Thicket globemallow Family: Malvaceae Synonymy: Etymology: The genus Sphaeralcea means, "globe marshmallow" (5) and the specific epithet fendleri is in honor of August Fendler (1813-1883), a German-born naturalist and one of the first botanists to collect in Texas, New Mexico and Venezuela (3). Identification Growth form: Fendler's globemallow can vary in size and height (up to 3'), resembling a tall herb or forb to a many-branched, low, sub-shrub or shrub (6). Roots: Stem: Branched, somewhat woody and pubescent (7, 4). Leaves: The leaves are alternate, simple, thick, palmately lobed or veined, with scalloped margins (7, 4). They can appear yellow- or gray-green with fine, white, star-shaped hairs. Inflorescence/flowers: Inflorescences are flower clusters on the upper stems (4). All Sphaeralcea species have brightly colored, regular flowers with 5 petals and 5 sepals. The petals are orange to red to lavender and ~1"-1.5" wide (7, 4, 5). As with all mallows, the most distinctive feature is the numerous, united stamen filaments that surround the pistil in a column (5, 4). The ovary of the mallows is superior with 5-many carpels (4). Fruit: The fruit is a spherical, dehiscent, pie-shaped capsule that splits into segments (4). Similar species: Sphaeralcea fendleri has 5 subspecies that occur in Arizona. These include ssp. albescens, ssp. elongata, ssp. fendleri, ssp. tripartite, and spp. venusta (6). Ecology Life history: Fendler's globemallow is a perennial (7, 4, 5). Native/introduced: Native (7, 4, 5). Photosynthetic pathway: Phenology: Distribution: Mallows are common along roadsides and in rangelands throughout the United States (7). Sphaeralcea is a common genus in the Southwest, and all 5 subspecies of Fendler's globemallow are found in Arizona. Some subspecies are also found in NM, Texas, Nevada and California (6). Uses Wildlife: The genus Sphaeralcea has been identified as an important food source for Desert Bighorn Sheep (2). The seeds are large and probably browsed by rodent granivores. Other: The mucilaginous compounds of this family are said to soothe skin irritations and may aid in soothing sore throats and coughs. Other members of this family and genus can be used as a skin and hair conditioner as well and have a number of uses to include fiber and vegetable foods. The mallow family is generally high nutrient quality, yet most species in this family are not considered important forage plants (1). References 1. Coon, N. 1974. The dictionary of useful plants. Rodale Press, Emmaus, USA. 2. DeYoung, R.W., E.C. Hellgren, T.E. Fulbright, W.F. Robbins, Jr., I.D. Humphreys. 2000. Modeling nutritional carrying capacity for translocated Desert Bighorn Sheep in western Texas. Restoration Ecology 8:57. 3. Elmore, F.H. 1976. Shrubs and trees of the Southwest uplands. Southwest Parks and Monuments Association, Tucson, USA. 4. Epple, A.O. 1995. A field guide to the plants of Arizona. The Globe Pequot Press, Guilford, USA. 5. Leake, D. V., J.B. Leake and M.L. Roeder. 1993. Desert and mountain plants of the Southwest. University of Oklahoma Press, Normon, USA. 6. USDA, NRCS. 2002. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA. 7. Whitson, T.D. [ed]. 1996. Weeds of the west, fifth edition. Pioneer of Jackson Hole, Jackson, USA.