SPHAERALCEAADIFFICULTGENUSWITHWEAK.pptVIP

SPHAERALCEA: A DIFFICULT GENUS WITH WEAK DISTINCTIONS ~40 species worldwide ●15 species in Intermountain Region Species in Utah 4 species fairly widespread S. coccinea S. grossulariifolia S. munroana S. parvifolia 4 species restricted to a single county 6 species endemic to Utah Difficulties Weak character differences between species Polyploidy and hybridization Generic Characteristics Herbs or shrubs Stellate pubescence Leaves entire to deeply dissected or compound Inflorescence of solitary flowers, racemes, thyrsoid, panicles Flowers red-orange, lavender, yellow, or rarely white Fruit a schizocarp with several to many mericarps Species Identification (1) Leaves Shallowly or deeply lobed Length to width ratio Pubescence Density Coarse or delicate Rays slender or not 2 or 3-dimensional Species identification (2) Inflorescence Thyrsoid Paniculate Racemose Number of flowers/node Calyx Length Lobe length Overall shape Flowers Petal length Leaves Not or shallowly lobed Deeply lobed Inflorescence Thyrsoid/ paniculate: flowers attached in a cluster at the nodes Racemose: 1(2,3) flowers/node, all attached directly to main stem 4 commonly confused species S. coccinea S. grossulariifolia S. munroana S. parvifolia Key to Common Species Leaves entire or shallowly lobed Leaves densely pubescent, relatively thick, margins weakly crenulate - S. parvifolia Leaves moderately pubescent (greenish), relatively thin, margins coarsely and irregularly crenulate - S. munroana Leaves deeply lobed Inflorescence thyrsoid or paniculate with 2+ flowers/node; mericarps higher than wide – S. grossulariifolia Inflorescence racemose with 1(2,3) flowers/node; mericarps nearly as high as wide – S. coccinea Sphaeralcea parviflora Perennial from a thick crown or woody, short branched caudex; typically with multiple, erect to ascending stems and usually short-branched. Herbage gray-green, moderately to densely pubescent; stellate hairs in multiple plan