Kingdom Plantae Family Malvaceae Scientific name Sidalcea oregana | Order Malvales Genus Sidalcea Rank Species | |
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Similar Sidalcea, Sidalcea candida, Sidalcea malviflora, Anemone oregana, Sidalcea nelsoniana | ||
Sidalcea oregana is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family known by the common name Oregon checkerbloom.
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Distribution
It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California to Utah, where it grows in a number of moist habitat types, such as marshes and meadows. The plant is somewhat variable in appearance, and the species is divided into a few subspecies; some authors also recognize varieties within subspecies. In general, this is a perennial herb growing to maximum heights well over one meter from a woody taproot.
Description
Sidalcea oregana is usually hairy in texture, the hairs thick and bristly toward the base of the stem. Most of the leaves are located low on the stem, basal or on long petioles. Their blades are usually deeply divided into lobes (see image at left); upper leaves may be divided further into leaflets.
The inflorescence is a dense or open spikelike raceme of many flowers. Each flower has five pink petals up to 2 centimeters long, usually notched at the end, and a central tube of reproductive parts (see flower closeup image).
Subspecies
Subspecies include: