Sidalcea pedata

taxobox
name = "Sidalcea pedata"
regnum = Plantae
unranked_divisio = Angiosperms
unranked_classis = Eudicots
unranked_ordo = Rosids
ordo = Malvales
familia = Malvaceae
genus = "Sidalcea"
species = "S. pedata"
binomial = "Sidalcea pedata"|

"Sidalcea pedata", also called Bird-footed Checkerbloom or Big Bear Checkerbloom, is a rare and endangered perennial herb of California. It grows at 1500–2100 m elevation in moist meadows to open woodlands and blooms between May and July. However, it is an endemic species of California and only occurs in few places in the San Bernardino Mountains, primarily at Bear Valley, Bluff Lake. Since Big Bear Valley is a resort destination, the birdfoot checkerbloom is threatened by development, vehicles and grazing.

Morphology

"Sidalcea pedata" grows from a fleshy taproot and can be as tall as 40 cm. It has few stems, which are erect and somewhat stellate at the base. The leaves are basal and are ternately divided into 5–7 parts. The flowers are about 1.3 cm long and are a deep rose-pink with darker veins. They are arranged in a spike-like raceme, with the upper flowers closely crowded together.

Like other species within the genus "Sidalcea," such as "S. oregana ssp","S. pedata" is sexually dimorphic.

Other Information

The Bird-footed Checkerbloom was listed as endangered by the state of California January 1982 and by the U.S. Federal Government August 31, 1984.

References and external links

* [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Sidalcea+pedata Jepson Flora Project]
* [http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=7581 Cal Flora]
* Ashman, T.-L.; Stanton, M.L. 1991. "Seasonal variation in pollination dynamics of the sexually dimorphic species, Sidalcea oregana ssp. spicata" (Malvaceae). Ecology". 72: 993-1003.