''Malacothamnus jonesii'' is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family which has three varieties, two of which are sometimes recognized at the species rank as ''Malacothamnus gracilis'' and ''Malacothamnus niveus''. ''Malacothamnus jonesii'' is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

San Luis Obispo County, California San Luis Obispo County (), officially the County of San Luis Obispo, is a County (United States), county on the Central Coast of California. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 282,424. The county seat is San Luis Obispo ...

and just over its northern and southern borders in

Monterey Monterey ( ; ) is a city situated on the southern edge of Monterey Bay, on the Central Coast of California. Located in Monterey County, the city occupies a land area of and recorded a population of 30,218 in the 2020 census. The city was fou ...

and Santa Barbara counties.Morse, K. 2023
Malacothamnus Volume 3: A Revised Treatment of the Genus Malacothamnus (Malvaceae) Based on Morphological and Phylogenetic Evidence.
/ref>

Varieties

Three varieties are recognized in ''Malacothamnus jonesii'': ''Malacothamnus jonesii'' var. ''jonesii'', ''Malacothamnus jonesii'' var. ''gracilis'', and ''Malacothamnus jonesii'' var. ''niveus''. The three varieties are mostly morphologically and geographically distinct but intergrade where their geographic ranges meet. These varieties together form a single clade in phylogenetic analyses.Morse, K. 2023
Malacothamnus Volume 1: A Morphological Assessment of Taxonomic Boundaries in the Genus Malacothamnus (Malvaceae).
/ref>Morse, K. 2023
Malacothamnus Volume 2: A Phylogenetic Assessment of Taxonomic Boundaries in the Genus Malacothamnus (Malvaceae).
/ref> ''Malacothamnus jonesii'' var. ''jonesii'' is known by the common name Jones’s bushmallow. It is distinguished from the other varieties by the combination of shorter calyx hairs and a spike-like inflorescence. ''Malacothamnus jonesii'' var. ''gracilis'' is known by the common names Huasna bushmallow and slender bushmallow. It is distinguished from the other varieties by the combination of shorter calyx hairs and a panicle-like inflorescence. ''Malacothamnus jonesii'' var. ''niveus'' is known by the common name fragrant-snow bushmallow. It is distinguished from the other varieties by its longer calyx hairs.

References

External links

Identification guide to ''Malacothamnus'' with maps and photosCalphotos image gallery for ''Malacothamnus jonesii'' var. ''gracilis''Calphotos image gallery for ''Malacothamnus jonesii'' var. ''jonesii''Calphotos image gallery for ''Malacothamnus jonesii'' var. ''niveus''
jonesii Endemic flora of California Natural history of the California chaparral and woodlands Natural history of the California Coast Ranges Natural history of Monterey County, California Natural history of San Luis Obispo County, California Natural history of Santa Barbara County, California Flora without expected TNC conservation status {{Malveae-stub