''Sphaeralcea'' is a genus of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

s in the mallow

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

(

Malvaceae Malvaceae, or the mallows, is a family of flowering plants estimated to contain 244 genera with 4225 known species. Well-known members of economic importance include okra, cotton, cacao and durian. There are also some genera containing familiar ...

). There are about 40-60

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

, including annuals,

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...

s, 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 South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the southe ...

. 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

flower A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechani ...

s 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 filam ...

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. T ...

of some Lepidoptera 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''. External linksImages

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

Selected species

*''

Sphaeralcea ambigua ''Sphaeralcea ambigua'', is a species of flowering plant commonly known as desert globemallow or apricot mallow, is a member of the genus ''Sphaeralcea'' in the mallow family (Malvaceae). It is a perennial shrub native to parts of California, Ne ...

'' A.Gray – Desert globemallow *''

Sphaeralcea angustifolia ''Sphaeralcea angustifolia'' is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family known by the common names copper globemallow and narrow-leaved globemallow. It is native to the southwestern United States as well as northern and central Mexico, ...

'' (Cav.) G.Don – Copper globemallow, narrowleaf desertmallow *''Sphaeralcea australis'' Spegazzini - Southern globemallow *''

Sphaeralcea bonariensis ''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 ...

'' (Cav.) Griseb. – Latin globemallow *''

Sphaeralcea caespitosa ''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 ...

'' M.E.Jones – Tufted globemallow *''

Sphaeralcea coccinea ''Sphaeralcea coccinea'', the scarlet globemallow, is a perennial plant growing 10–30 cm tall from spreading rhizomes with a low habit. They have grayish stems with dense, star-shaped hairs and alternately arranged leaves. The leaf blades ...

'' (Nutt.) Rydb. – Scarlet globemallow, red globemallow, red falsemallow *''

Sphaeralcea coulteri ''Sphaeralcea coulteri'' is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family known by the common name Coulter's globemallow. It is native to the Sonoran Desert, its distribution extending from northern Mexico north into California and Arizona ...

'' (S.Watson) A.Gray – Coulter's globemallow *''

Sphaeralcea digitata ''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 ...

'' (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 ''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 ...

'' A.Gray – Fendler's globemallow, thicket globemallow *''

Sphaeralcea gierischii ''Sphaeralcea gierischii'', Gierisch's globemallow or Gierisch mallow, is an endangered species of flowering plant in the mallow family, Malvaceae. It is native to the western United States, where it is known only from Utah and Arizona.

'' – Gierisch mallow *''

Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia ''Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia'' is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family known by the common name gooseberryleaf globemallow. It is native to the western United States, where it can be found in the Great Basin and surrounding regio ...

'' (Hook. & Arn.) Rydb. – Gooseberryleaf globemallow, currantleaf globemallow *''

Sphaeralcea hastulata ''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 – 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 ''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 ...

'' (Welsh) Welsh – Jane's globemallow *''

Sphaeralcea laxa ''Sphaeralcea laxa'', with the common name caliche globemallow, is a desert plant in the mallow family (Malvaceae). References laxa {{malveae-stub ...

'' 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 ''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 ...

'' 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 ''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 ...

'' (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 (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 ...

'' 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