Sidalcea oregana subsp. valida

Kenwood marsh checkerbloom, Kenwood Marsh Checkerbloom

Family: Malvaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered

Kenwood marsh checkerbloom is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native perennial found in southern North Coast Ranges near Kenwood in Sonoma County, inhabiting marsh environments at approximately 150 meters elevation. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces pink-lavender flowers 10 to 15 millimeters long in dense, compact clusters. Growing 90 to 120 centimeters tall with multiple decumbent stems that often root near the base and have thick, fleshy roots, it develops stems more than 5 millimeters in diameter with sparse bristles. Its leaves are covered with stellate (star-shaped) hairs, with stems becoming relatively smooth with age as they mature. The fruit segments are smooth, approximately 3 millimeters long with a short 0.5-millimeter beak.

Habitat: Marsh

Bloom period: Jun-Sep

Elevation: +- 150 m.

Bioregions: s NCoRO (near Kenwood, Sonoma Co.).

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.