''Sphaeralcea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family ( Malvaceae). There are about 40-60 species, including annuals, perennials, and

shrub A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees ...

s. Most originate in the drier regions of

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

, with some known from South America. They are commonly known as globemallows, globe mallows, or falsemallows. The name of the genus is derived from the Greek words σφαῖρα (''sphaira''), meaning "sphere," and αλκεα (''alkea''), meaning "mallow." The

leaves A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...

of these plants are spirally arranged, and usually palmate or toothed. Both stems and leaves are downy. Like other Malvaceae, the flowers are saucer- or cup-shaped, with the

stamen The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filame ...

s joined into a column in the center. ''Sphaeralcea'' species are used as food plants by the

larvae A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle. The ...

of some

Lepidoptera Lepidoptera ( ) is an order (biology), order of insects that includes butterfly, butterflies and moths (both are called lepidopterans). About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera are described, in 126 Family (biology), families and 46 Taxonomic r ...

species including ''

Schinia olivacea ''Schinia olivacea'' is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found in North America, including Texas. The wingspan is 21–24 mm. Larvae have been recorded on '' Hermannia texana'' and ''Sphaeralcea lindheimeri ''Sphaeralcea'' is a g ...

'', which has been recorded on ''S. lindheimeri''.

Selected species

*'' Sphaeralcea ambigua'' A.Gray – Desert globemallow *'' Sphaeralcea angustifolia'' (Cav.) G.Don – Copper globemallow, narrowleaf desertmallow *''Sphaeralcea australis'' Spegazzini - Southern globemallow *'' Sphaeralcea bonariensis'' (Cav.) Griseb. – Latin globemallow *'' Sphaeralcea caespitosa'' M.E.Jones – Tufted globemallow *'' Sphaeralcea coccinea'' (Nutt.) Rydb. – Scarlet globemallow, red globemallow, red falsemallow *'' Sphaeralcea coulteri'' (S.Watson) A.Gray – Coulter's globemallow *'' Sphaeralcea digitata'' (Greene) Rydb. – Juniper globemallow, slippery globemallow *''

Sphaeralcea emoryi ''Sphaeralcea emoryi'' is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family known by the common name Emory's globemallow. It is native to the Southwestern United States The Southwestern United States, also known as the American Southwest or s ...

'' Torr. ex A.Gray – Emory's globemallow *'' Sphaeralcea fendleri'' A.Gray – Fendler's globemallow, thicket globemallow *'' Sphaeralcea gierischii'' – Gierisch mallow *'' Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia'' (Hook. & Arn.) Rydb. – Gooseberryleaf globemallow, currantleaf globemallow *'' Sphaeralcea hastulata'' A.Gray – Spear globemallow, spreading globemallow *''

Sphaeralcea incana ''Sphaeralcea incana'', with the common names gray globemallow and soft globemallow, is a desert plant in the Malvaceae, mallow family (Malvaceae).Sphaeralcea janeae'' (Welsh) Welsh – Jane's globemallow *'' Sphaeralcea laxa'' Wooton & Standl. – Caliche globemallow *''

Sphaeralcea leptophylla ''Sphaeralcea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family (Malvaceae). There are about 40-60 species, including annuals, perennials, and shrubs. Most originate in the drier regions of North America, with some known from South America. ...

'' (A.Gray) Rydb. – Scaly globemallow *'' Sphaeralcea lindheimeri'' A.Gray – Woolly globemallow *''

Sphaeralcea munroana ''Sphaeralcea munroana'' is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family known by the common names Munro's globemallow and Munro's desert-mallow. It is native to the western United States, where it can be found in the Great Basin and surroun ...

'' (Douglas ex Lindl.) Spach ex A.Gray – Munro's globemallow, whitestem globemallow *''

Sphaeralcea nutans ''Sphaeralcea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family (Malvaceae). There are about 40-60 species, including annuals, perennials, and shrubs. Most originate in the drier regions of North America, with some known from South America. ...

'' *'' Sphaeralcea obtusiloba'' (Hook.) G.Don *''

Sphaeralcea orcuttii ''Sphaeralcea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family (Malvaceae). There are about 40-60 species, including annuals, perennials, and shrubs. Most originate in the drier regions of North America, with some known from South America. ...

'' Rose – Carrizo Creek globemallow *''

Sphaeralcea palmeri ''Sphaeralcea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family ( Malvaceae). There are about 40-60 species, including annuals, perennials, and shrubs. Most originate in the drier regions of North America, with some known from South Am ...

'' *''

Sphaeralcea parvifolia ''Sphaeralcea parvifolia'', commonly called small-leaved globe-mallow or small-leaf globemallow, is a species of plant native to the western United States in the Great Basin and Colorado River drainage. It is medium sized herbaceous species that ...

'' A.Nelson – Smallflower globemallow, littleleaf globemallow *''

Sphaeralcea pedatifida ''Sphaeralcea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family (Malvaceae). There are about 40-60 species, including annuals, perennials, and shrubs. Most originate in the drier regions of North America, with some known from South America. ...

'' (A.Gray) A.Gray – Palmleaf globemallow *''

Sphaeralcea philippiana ''Sphaeralcea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family (Malvaceae). There are about 40-60 species, including annuals, perennials, and shrubs. Most originate in the drier regions of North America, with some known from South America. ...

'' *''

Sphaeralcea polychroma ''Sphaeralcea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family (Malvaceae). There are about 40-60 species, including annuals, perennials, and shrubs. Most originate in the drier regions of North America, with some known from South America. ...

'' La Duke – Hot Springs globemallow *''

Sphaeralcea procera ''Sphaeralcea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family (Malvaceae). There are about 40-60 species, including annuals, perennials, and shrubs. Most originate in the drier regions of North America, with some known from South America. ...

'' – Luna County globemallow *''

Sphaeralcea psoraloides ''Sphaeralcea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family (Malvaceae). There are about 40-60 species, including annuals, perennials, and shrubs. Most originate in the drier regions of North America, with some known from South America. ...

'' Welsh – Psoralea globemallow *''

Sphaeralcea rusbyi ''Sphaeralcea rusbyi'' is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family known by the common names Rusby's globemallow and Rusby's desert-mallow. It is native to the southwestern United States, where it can be found in various types of desert ...

'' A.Gray – Rusby's globemallow, cutleaf globemallow *''

Sphaeralcea subhastata ''Sphaeralcea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family (biology), family (Malvaceae). There are about 40-60 species, including annual plant, annuals, Perennial plant, perennials, and shrubs. Most originate in the drier regions of No ...

'' *''

Sphaeralcea sulphurea ''Sphaeralcea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family (Malvaceae). There are about 40-60 species, including annuals, perennials, and shrubs. Most originate in the drier regions of North America, with some known from South America. ...

'' *''

Sphaeralcea wrightii ''Sphaeralcea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family (Malvaceae). There are about 40-60 species, including annuals, perennials, and shrubs. Most originate in the drier regions of North America, with some known from South America. ...

'' A.Gray – Wright's globemallow

Formerly placed here

*'' Iliamna rivularis'' (Douglas) Greene (as ''S. acerifolia'' Torr. & A.Gray and ''S. rivularis'' (Douglas) Torr.) *''

Phymosia umbellata ''Phymosia umbellata'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae. It is native to Mexico and is cultivated as an ornamental plant. This tropical evergreen shrub grows to in height, with cup shaped scarlet flowers produced mainly i ...

'' (Cav.) Kearney (as ''S. umbellata'' (Cav.) G.Don)

References

External links

USDA Plants Profile
{{Taxonbar, from=Q936759 Malvaceae genera