Sphaeralcea lindheimeri
Family: Malvaceae
Description: Perennial with upright or spreading stems to 75 cm long. Forms clumps to 40 cm high. Leaves alternate 1.5-5 cm long, oblong-lanceolate, heart-shaped with basal lobes. Leaf margins shallowly cut and toothed. Flowers radial in leafy racemes, the rosy petals 1.5-2 cm long.
Field Identification: Grows in small clumps with numerous yellow petals with rosy-red petal tips extending distally 1/2 the petal length. Leaves slightly fuzzy. Very showy and attractive.
Plant Trivia: Attractive morning bloomer. This is a species of western Texas. Ferinand Lindheimer was an immigrate from Germany who contributed to the 19th century knowledge of Texas plants. This is an endemic Texas plant.
Occurrence: Occasional of heavier sands or clay in open areas and disturbed places.
Bloom Period: Mar – Dec
Plant Use: Nice ornamental; nectar and pollen source.
Key to the Genus Sphaeralcea:
- Leaves deeply lo0bed or divided……………………………S. pedatifida
Leaves not as above………………………………………………………………………..2
2. Leaves thick, velvety……………………………………………..S. lindheimeri
Leaves thin…………………………………………………………………..S. hastulata
