Duration: Perennial

Nativity: Native

Lifeform: Subshrub

General: Perennial, stems several, canescent to 1 m or taller; stems erect to floppy and curving.

Leaves: Broadly ovate to ovate-oblong, somewhat cordate at base, angulate to 3-parted or 3-cleft, crenate or dentate on margins, 2-9 cm long.

Flowers: Three or more per node, in many-flowered interrupted raceme, pedicels shorter than sepals; calyx 5-10 mm , densely stellate-tomentose;, lobes acute to acuminate; petals grenadine-pink to pale red-orange, 10-20 mm long.

Fruits: Mericarps 2-or-3 seeded, 2.7-4.3 mm, longer than wide, dehiscent section about as large as the body.

Ecology: Found in sandy or loamy soil, sandy plains or waste places below 3,000 ft (914 m); flowers April-June.

Distribution: s CA, s NV, AZ, NM, s CO, TX, sw OK, s KS; south to s MEX.

Notes: Distinguished by the large, elongated, ovate, toothed leaves which are 3-cleft with two large sharp lobes at the base.

Ethnobotany: Taken as a decoction of root for diarrhea by Pima.

Etymology: Sphaeralcea is from Greek sphaira, a globe, and alcea, a related genus.

Synonyms: Phymosia cuspidata, Sida angustifolia subsp. cuspidata, S. angustifolia var. cuspidata, S. angustifolia var. lobata, S. angustifolia subsp. lobata, S. angustifolia var. oblongifolia, S. cuspidata, S. emoryi subsp. nevadensis, S. emoryi var. nevadensis

Editor: SBuckley 2010, FSCoburn 2015