Sidalcea hickmanii subsp. anomala

C. L. Hitchcock

Perenn. Sp. Sidalcea, 79. 1957.

Common names: Cuesta Pass checkerbloom
Conservation concernEndemic
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 6. Treatment on page 336. Mentioned on page 335.

Plants often mound-forming, 0.3–0.6 m, with taproot. Stems usually crowded in older plants, erect to ascending, usually reddish, grayish stellate-hairy, hairs coarse, longest 1.5 mm. Leaves: stipules wide-lanceolate to ovate, 6–8 × 2.5–3 mm; petiole 3–6 cm, 1–3 times as long as blade; blades on proximal portion of stem rounded, those distally with wide sinus, deeply, palmately (3–)5–7-lobed, incised ± to base, 2–6 × 2–6 cm, narrowed to base, margins crenate-dentate, surfaces coarsely stellate-hairy. Inflorescences open, usually branched, 10–20 cm; bracts distinct, ovate-lanceolate to ovate, (7–)10–12 mm, 3–4 times longer than pedicels, equaling or shorter than calyx. Pedicels 1–4 mm, obscured by bracts; involucellar bractlets 3, 8–10 mm, ± equaling calyx. Flowers bisexual or pistillate, plants gynodioecious; calyx 10–12 mm, densely long-bristly; petals pinkish lavender, veins often paler, 12–15 mm; staminal column 6–7 mm, hairy; anthers white to pale pinkish; stigmas usually 6. Schizocarps 5–6 mm diam.; mericarps usually 6, (1.5–)2–2.5 mm, smooth except for dorsal-medial line and several transverse corrugations especially at margins. Seeds 1.5–2 mm.


Phenology: Flowering Apr–May(–Jun).
Habitat: Closed-cone conifer forests and chaparral, usually serpentine
Elevation: 600–800 m

Discussion

Of conservation concern.

Subspecies anomala is known from the vicinity of Cuesta Pass, outer South Coast Ranges, San Luis Obispo County, and is distinctive in its hemispheric-mounding habit, deeply palmately lobed leaves, and relatively large bracts that equal the calyx in length. It is listed as endangered in California and is occasionally cultivated.

Subspecies anomala is in the Center for Plant Conservation’s National Collection of Endangered Plants.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
Steven R. Hill +
C. L. Hitchcock +
Cuesta Pass checkerbloom +
600–800 m +
Closed-cone conifer forests and chaparral, usually serpentine +
Flowering Apr–May(–Jun). +
Perenn. Sp. Sidalcea, +
Conservation concern +  and Endemic +
Hesperalcea +
Sidalcea hickmanii subsp. anomala +
Sidalcea hickmanii +
subspecies +