Sidalcea stipularis
Encyclopedia
Sidalcea stipularis is a rare species of flowering plant in the mallow family
known by the common name Scadden Flat checkerbloom. It is endemic to Nevada County, California
, where it is known from only two occurrences on Scadden Flat near Grass Valley
. It grows in marsh
y habitat. This rhizomatous
perennial herb produces a bristle-haired stem up to 65 centimeters tall. The leaves have oval, unlobed blades on petioles
and are evenly spaced along the stem. Each is accompanied by short stipule
s. The inflorescence
is a headlike cluster of flowers with a cuplike skirt of hairy bract
s. Each flower has five pink petals about 1.5 centimeters long each.
Threats to this rare species include the invasion
of Himalayan blackberry
(Rubus armeniacus) into its habitat. One of the two occurrences is next to a road where there is heavy CalTrans
activity. The plant has no federal protection but it is a state-listed endangered species
in California.
Malvaceae
Malvaceae, or the mallow family, is a family of flowering plants containing over 200 genera with close to 2,300 species. Judd & al. Well known members of this family include okra, jute and cacao...
known by the common name Scadden Flat checkerbloom. It is endemic to Nevada County, California
Nevada County, California
Nevada County is a county located in the Sierra Nevada of California, in the Mother Lode country. As of 2010 its population was 98,764. The county seat is Nevada City.-History:Nevada County was created in 1851 from parts of Yuba County....
, where it is known from only two occurrences on Scadden Flat near Grass Valley
Grass Valley, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Grass Valley had a population of 12,860. The population density was 2,711.3 people per square mile . The racial makeup of Grass Valley was 11,493 White, 46 African American, 208 Native American, 188 Asian, 9 Pacific Islander, 419 from other...
. It grows in marsh
Marsh
In geography, a marsh, or morass, is a type of wetland that is subject to frequent or continuous flood. Typically the water is shallow and features grasses, rushes, reeds, typhas, sedges, other herbaceous plants, and moss....
y habitat. This rhizomatous
Rhizome
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome is a characteristically horizontal stem of a plant that is usually found underground, often sending out roots and shoots from its nodes...
perennial herb produces a bristle-haired stem up to 65 centimeters tall. The leaves have oval, unlobed blades on petioles
Petiole (botany)
In botany, the petiole is the stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole are called stipules. Leaves lacking a petiole are called sessile, or clasping when they partly surround the...
and are evenly spaced along the stem. Each is accompanied by short stipule
Stipule
In botany, stipule is a term coined by Linnaeus which refers to outgrowths borne on either side of the base of a leafstalk...
s. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is a headlike cluster of flowers with a cuplike skirt of hairy bract
Bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture...
s. Each flower has five pink petals about 1.5 centimeters long each.
Threats to this rare species include the invasion
Invasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
of Himalayan blackberry
Rubus armeniacus
Rubus armeniacus, Armenian Blackberry or Himalayan Blackberry, is a species of Rubus in the blackberry group Rubus subgenus Rubus series Discolores Focke. It is native to Armenia in southwest Asia, and widely naturalised elsewhere...
(Rubus armeniacus) into its habitat. One of the two occurrences is next to a road where there is heavy CalTrans
California Department of Transportation
The California Department of Transportation is a government department in the U.S. state of California. Its mission is to improve mobility across the state. It manages the state highway system and is actively involved with public transportation systems throughout the state...
activity. The plant has no federal protection but it is a state-listed endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
in California.