Sphaeralcea munroana
Munro's desert-mallow
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Malvaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2
Sphaeralcea munroana (Munro's desert-mallow) is a native California subshrub in the Malvaceae family, recognized by distinctive spherical fruits with reflexed tips.
Munro's desert-mallow is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native shrub found in northern Sierra Nevada Mountains near Squaw Creek in Placer County in dry, open places at elevations around 2,000 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces vibrant red-orange flowers 11 to 14 millimeters long with yellow anthers. Growing as a canescent subshrub with erect stems up to 75 centimeters tall, it develops a distinctive branching structure. Its triangular leaves are 4.5 centimeters or less, green to gray-green, with coarsely dentate edges and shallow or absent lobes. The fruit consists of approximately 12 spherical segments with sharp reflexed tips, each containing a single brown, hairy seed.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated in high Sierra; distinctive spherical fruits with reflexed tips
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, open places
Elevation: +- 2000 m.
California counties: Sierra, Inyo
Outside California: to Washington, Montana, Wyoming, Utah
Bloom period
Sphaeralcea munroana blooms May-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.2
How to tell it apart
vs Malacothamnus: Sphaeralcea flowers face outward in open panicles; Malacothamnus flowers are tucked closer to stems in denser clusters.; vs Abutilon: Sphaeralcea has 1-3 small bracts (even if fallen); Abutilon completely lacks any bracts beneath flowers.; vs Malva: Sphaeralcea has salmon-orange flowers and net-veined fruit base; Malva has pink-purple flowers and smooth fruits throughout.; vs Hibiscus: Sphaeralcea has small flowers and inconspicuous bracts; Hibiscus has very large flowers and prominent persistent bracts.; vs Eriogonum: Sphaeralcea has typical mallow flowers with fused stamen column; Eriogonum has tiny flowers in heads with papery bracts.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sphaeralcea munroana native to California?
Yes. Sphaeralcea munroana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sphaeralcea munroana bloom?
Sphaeralcea munroana blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Sphaeralcea munroana grow?
Sphaeralcea munroana occurs in Sierra, Inyo, at elevations of +- 2000 m..
What plant family does Sphaeralcea munroana belong to?
Sphaeralcea munroana is in the Malvaceae family, genus Sphaeralcea.
Is Sphaeralcea munroana rare or endangered?
Sphaeralcea munroana carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.2, state rank S1.
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.