Butte County Checker-Mallow
(Sidalcea robusta )
Malvaceae (mallow family)
Photo by Joe Molter, BLM
Description: Rhizomatous perennial herb up to 4 1/2 feet (15 dm) tall. Leaves mostly on lower third of stems; basal leaves round or kidney-shaped in outline, with shallow notches, then grading up the stem until finally reduced to 3 or so very narrow lobes. Flowering portion, spike-like, generally 10 to 15 inches (25 to 40 cm) long with loosely clustered pale pink flowers having 5 petals, 3/4 to 1 3/8 inch (2 to 3.5 cm) long. Mature fruit segments margined with a narrow wing
Distribution: Within the public lands administered by the Redding Field office, this species is found in the foothills of the southern Cascade Ranges in Butte County.
Habitat: Partial shade in foothill woodland (often with a chaparral component intermixed) and blue oak savanna, on Tuscan Formation derived soils at 300 to 1200 feet (100 to 400 M).
Flowering Period: April to June
Similar Plants: S. rubusta is the only perennial Sidalcea likely to be encountered in its elevation and geographic range. Other perennial Sidalcea spp. near the boundaries of this species do not have winged fruit segments.
Status: BLM Sensitive, California Native Plant Society List 1B