Coulter's Globe Mallow
Sphaeralcea coulteri
Photographed at Robbins Butte, Maricopa Co., Arizona. March 2008. The numerous stamens and the stamen tube are easily visible.
Photographed at Robbins Butte, Maricopa Co., Arizona. March 2008. The palmately toothed leaf has smaller, sparser stellate hairs than other globe mallow species.
FLOWERS: A delightful and delicate shade of pure orange. Five petals
surrounding the column of numerous stamens. The flowers are aranged on usu. a
single stem with several at each leaf axil.
ANNUAL: Usually a diminutive annual of sandy spots rarely more than
½ meter tall. Usually growing in patches Dries out
quickly when high temperatures return and may be absent for many years when
drought conditions persist.
LEAVES: Leaves are coursly toothed and are clearer green than other
globe mallows, because the hairs are sparser.
RANGE: Fairly common in lower elevations of the Sonoran Desert in
Arizona and Mexico seeming to prefer sandy terraces near washes or the loose
soil near burrows made by animals. Depends on good winter rains.
FRUIT: Dry, radially arrayed carpels, similar to other mallows; a
schizocarp.
UNARMED. The minute, star-shaped hairs, however, can be irritating
particularily if they get into the eyes. Best not to rub your eyes after
handling the globe mallows.