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: w and s AZ, s NV, se CA, n Baja Calif.

Notes: Big ovate leaves, 3-cleft, helps to identify this species.

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

Etymology: Sphaeralcea is from Greek sphaira, a globe, and alcea, a related genus, while emoryi is named for Maj. William Hemsley Emory (1811-1887) Director of the Mexican Boundary Survey.

Synonyms: Many, see Tropicos

Editor: SBuckley, 2010