Malvaceae FAMILY

Sphaeralcea coccinea

Edibility

0/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

Care should be used when handling seed because the stellate hairs on the seed can be a severe eye irritant[ 277 Title Plants Database Publication Author Website http://plants.usda.gov/java/factSheet Publisher United States Department of Agriculture Year 0 ISBN Description An online database with an excellent collection of fact sheets about native N. American plants. ]. The hairs on the leaves can cause irritation to some people[ 1152 Title Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West Publication Author Moore M. Publisher Museum of New Mexico Press; Santa Fe Year 2003 ISBN 0-89013-454-5 Description Detailed information on the medicinal uses of around 150 species of plants from the Rocky Mountains of N. America. An excellent, detailed publication, written in a style that connects the writer to his readers. ].

Botanical Description

Sphaeralcea coccinea is a herbaceous perennial plant producing a cluster (usually 3 - 6) ascending to decumbent stems from a rhizomatous rootstock; the plant usually grows 10 - 30cm tall, occasionally to 50cm[ 270 Title Flora of N. America Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses. ]. The main taproot is woody and stout and may remain unbranched for 90cm before it divides into lateral roots[ 277 Title Plants Database Publication Author Website http://plants.usda.gov/java/factSheet Publisher United States Department of Agriculture Year 0 ISBN Description An online database with an excellent collection of fact sheets about native N. American plants. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental in gardens[ 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeWestern and central N. America - British Colombia to Manitoba, south through Idaho and Iowa to Arizona, Texas and northern Mexico

HabitatDry plains, prairies, disturbed roadsides; at elevations from 300 - 2,500 metres[ 270 Title Flora of N. America Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses. ]. The var elata is found in rocky, sandy, or silty soil, limestone, gypsum, or igneous substrates, slopes, flats, or washes, desert scrub or shrublands[ 270 Title Flora of N. America Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses. ].