Key to Sphaeralcea

View taxon page for Sphaeralcea

(For a list of species in Sphaeralcea, use the above link.)

Jepson Manual glossary definitions can be seen by moving your cursor over words underlined with dots.

1. Annual ..... S. coulteri

1' Subshrub (flower 1st year or not)

2. Leaves ± lance-linear ..... S. angustifolia

2' Leaves wider than lance-linear

3. Leaves deeply divided

4. Sepals < 11 mm ..... S. grossulariifolia

4' Sepals 13–15 mm ..... S. rusbyi var. eremicola

3' Leaves often lobed but not deeply divided

5. Inflorescence an open 

panicle 

1. In flowering plants excluding Asteraceae, Cyperaceae, Poaceae, and some other groups, a branched inflorescence in which the basal or lateral flowers (or some of them) open before the terminal or central flowers on any axis. 2. In Asteraceae, Cyperaceae, Poaceae, and some other groups, a panicle-like inflorescence is one in which at least some of the inflorescence units (e.g., heads in Asteraceae; spikelets in Cyperaceae and Poaceae), instead of individual flowers, are attached (stalked or unstalked) to branches and not directly to the main axis of the inflorescence and in which floral development may or may not proceed as in 1.

, occasionally dense in 

bud 

1. An incompletely developed, more or less embryonic shoot, usually covered with bud scales. 2. An unopened flower, often protected by sepals.

..... S. ambigua (in part)

6. Petals red-orange to apricot ..... var. ambigua

6' Petals lavender to pink ..... var. rosacea

5' Inflorescence raceme-like or a dense panicle

7. Leaves coarsely 

dentate 

Having margins with sharp, relatively coarse teeth pointing outward, not tipward.

..... S. munroana

7' Leaves 

entire 

Having margins that are continuous and smooth (i.e., without teeth, lobes, etc.).

, ± wavy, 

crenate 

Pertaining to margins with shallow, rounded teeth, between which are usually acute sinuses (i.e., scalloped)

, or finely dentate

8. Leaf markedly wrinkled abaxially ..... S. ambigua var. rugosa

8' Leaf ± not wrinkled abaxially

9. Hairs coarse; leaves gray-green; fruit segment 4.5–5 mm, 

dehiscent 

Opening at maturity to release contents; usually pertaining to anthers or fruits.

part ± 60% of segment ..... S. emoryi var. emoryi

9' Hairs fine; leaves generally yellow-green; fruit segment 2.5–3 mm, dehiscent part < 20% of segment ..... S. orcuttii

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