''Sidalcea pedata'', also called birdfoot checkerbloom or Big Bear checkerbloom, is a rare and

endangered An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching, inv ...

perennial In horticulture, the term perennial ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. It has thus been defined as a plant that lives more than 2 years. The term is also ...

herb Herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal purposes, or for fragrances. Culinary use typically distingu ...

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

. It blooms between May and July. However, it is an

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 ...

species of California and only occurs in few places in the San Bernardino Mountains, primarily at Bear Valley, Bluff Lake. It grows at 1500–2100 m elevation in moist meadows to open woodlands and the unique pebble plain habitat of the area. Since Big Bear Valley is a resort destination, the birdfoot checkerbloom is threatened by development, vehicles and grazing.

Description

''Sidalcea pedata'' grows from a fleshy

taproot A taproot is a large, central, and dominant root from which other roots sprout laterally. Typically a taproot is somewhat straight and very thick, is tapering in shape, and grows directly downward. In some plants, such as the carrot, the taproot ...

and can be as tall as 40 cm. It has few stems, which are erect and somewhat stellate at the base. The

leaves A leaf (: leaves) is a principal appendage of the stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, stem, ...

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 A raceme () or racemoid is an unbranched, indeterminate growth, indeterminate type of inflorescence bearing flowers having short floral stalks along the shoots that bear the flowers. The oldest flowers grow close to the base and new flowers are ...

, 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 birdfoot checkerbloom was listed as

by the state of California January 1982 and by the U.S. Federal Government August 31, 1984.

References and external links

Jepson Flora Project

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. {{Taxonbar, from=Q7507993 pedata Endemic flora of California ~ Natural history of the Transverse Ranges Natural history of San Bernardino County, California