Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia

Gooseberry-leaved globemallow

Family: Malvaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3

Gooseberry-leaved globemallow is a rare (CNPS 2B.3) California native shrub found in southeastern Modoc Plateau in Lassen County on dry, volcanic soils at elevations below 1,700 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces vibrant red-orange flowers approximately 11 millimeters long with yellow anthers. Growing with erect white-canescent stems 60 to 100 centimeters tall that have a woody base, it develops a distinctive branching structure. Its leaves have distinctive three-lobed blades 17 to 35 millimeters long, colored green to gray-green with a cordate base and deeply divided lobes that can be rounded or pointed. The fruit develops in segments 2.5 millimeters wide, with each segment containing a single gray seed.

Habitat: Dry, volcanic soils

Bloom period: May-Jun

Elevation: < 1700 m

Bioregions: se MP (Lassen Co.)

California counties: Mono, Lassen, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles

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