Iliamna latibracteata
California globe mallow
(c) Dee Shea Himes, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Malvaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Iliamna latibracteata (California globe mallow) is a native California herb in the Malvaceae family, recognized by clear size differences and habitat preferences distinguish from I. bakeri.
California globe mallow is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in northern coastal, Klamath Ranges, and California Ranges bioregions in Humboldt and Siskiyou counties, inhabiting conifer forests and streamsides at elevations of 500 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces striking rose-purple flowers 4 to 6 centimeters wide with delicate petals. Growing one to two meters tall with robust stems, it develops a substantial upright form. Its large leaves are deeply lobed with 5 to 7 segments, measuring 10 to 15 centimeters wide, densely hairy on the underside and coarsely serrated along the edges. The plant produces fruits 10 to 20 millimeters long, containing two to four seeds per segment.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; clear size differences and habitat preferences distinguish from I. bakeri
Habitat and range
Habitat: Conifer forest, streamsides
Elevation: 500-2000 m
California counties: Humboldt, Siskiyou, Mendocino, Trinity
Outside California: southwestern Oregon
Bloom period
Iliamna latibracteata blooms Jun-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
How to tell it apart
vs Modiola: Iliamna has bristly fruits and upright stems; Modiola has smooth fruits and prostrate rooting stems.; vs Sphaeralcea: Iliamna fruits are bristly and split open completely; Sphaeralcea fruits are smooth with net-veined closed lower half.; vs Abutilon: Iliamna has 3 bracts beneath flowers and bristly fruits; Abutilon has no bracts and smooth woody fruits.; vs Herissantia: Iliamna has bristly fruits splitting to base; Herissantia has inflated papery balloon-like fruits.
Frequently asked questions
Is Iliamna latibracteata native to California?
Yes. Iliamna latibracteata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Iliamna latibracteata bloom?
Iliamna latibracteata blooms Jun-Jul.
Where in California does Iliamna latibracteata grow?
Iliamna latibracteata occurs in Humboldt, Siskiyou, Mendocino, Trinity, at elevations of 500-2000 m.
What plant family does Iliamna latibracteata belong to?
Iliamna latibracteata is in the Malvaceae family, genus Iliamna.
Is Iliamna latibracteata rare or endangered?
Iliamna latibracteata carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.