Desert globemallow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Desert globemallow |
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| Desert globemallow Sphaeralcea ambigua var. ambigua |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Sphaeralcea
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| Species: |
ambigua
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The Sphaeralcea ambigua, often called desert globemallow or apricot mallow, is a beautiful plant. It belongs to the Sphaeralcea group in the mallow family. This family is known as Malvaceae.
This plant is a perennial shrub. This means it lives for more than two years. It grows naturally in parts of the California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico in the United States. You can also find it in Sonora and Baja California in northwest Mexico. It likes sandy or clay soil that is alkaline. It often grows near creosote bushes and in desert chaparral areas. You can find it from about 150 to 2,500 meters (about 490 to 8,200 feet) high. It lives in the Mojave Desert, Great Basin desert, and Sonoran Desert areas. Many butterfly larvae, like the common checkered skipper and painted lady, eat its leaves.
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What it Looks Like
The desert globemallow plant can grow up to 3 feet (about 1 meter) tall. It can spread out 2 to 3 feet (about 0.6 to 0.9 meters) wide. Its leaves are fuzzy with white hairs on both sides. They have lobes and veins that spread out like a hand. The leaves grow on long stems. The plant grows more stems as it gets older.
The fruit of the plant is a brown capsule. It holds many seeds. When it first forms, the fruit is round, like a globe. This is where the name "globemallow" comes from. Later, it flattens into a disk shape. The flowers are shaped like bowls and have five petals. They are usually apricot to orange in color. These pretty flowers bloom in the spring.
Different Types of Globemallow
There are several slightly different types of Sphaeralcea ambigua. These are called varieties. They are all part of the same main plant species.
How People Use It
Long ago, members of the Shoshoni tribe, a group of Native Americans, used this plant. They used it as a food source. They also used it as a medicinal plant to help with illnesses.
Growing it in Gardens
The Sphaeralcea ambigua is a popular plant for gardens. Plant nurseries grow it to sell. People like to use it in desert gardens or drought tolerant gardens. These gardens need less water. Since it's a native plant to desert areas, it's great for natural landscaping. It's also used in habitat restoration projects. These projects help bring back natural areas.
If you want to grow it, here's what it needs:
- Sunlight: It needs full sun to grow well.
- Water: It can live on natural rainfall. Giving it extra water will make more flowers bloom.
- Soil: It likes desert soil. It can handle some clay, but it prefers soil that drains water well.
- Starting New Plants: It's easy to grow from seeds. Growing it from cuttings can be tricky. The best time to try cuttings is when new growth appears in spring.
- Care: It doesn't need much care. You can trim it sometimes to keep it looking neat.
See also
In Spanish: Malva del desierto para niños
