Plants perennial, rhizomatous. Stems 3–6, ascending or decumbent, light green to grayish, 1–3(–5) dm, stellate- green. Flowers: sepals 5–10 mm; petals red-orange, 5–20 mm; anthers yellow. Schizocarps flattened spheric-conic; mericarps 10–14, 3–3.5 × 2.5–3 mm, thick, coriaceous, nonreticulate dehiscent part 10–35% of height, muticous, indehiscent part usually wider than dehiscent part. Seeds 1 per mericarp, gray to black, ± glabrous.

Distribution

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Alta., B.C., Man., Sask., Ariz., Colo., Idaho, Iowa, Kans., Mont., N.Dak., N.Mex., Nebr., Okla., S.Dak., Tex., Utah, Wyo., n Mexico.

Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

Sphaeralcea coccinea is variable; it is one of the first sphaeralceas to bloom and is commonly found on roadsides.

Selected References

La Duke, J. C. and D. K. Northington. 1978. The systematics of Sphaeralcea coccinea (Nutt.) Rydberg. SouthW. Naturalist 23: 651–660.

Lower Taxa

Sphaeralcea coccinea var. coccinea, Sphaeralcea coccinea var. elata

Key

1	Leaf blades: midlobe ± equaling secondary lobes.	Sphaeralcea coccinea var. coccinea
1	Leaf blades: midlobe longer than secondary lobes.	Sphaeralcea coccinea var. elata