XSphaeralcea coccinea - Copper MallowX
Click/Tap a thumbnail image to see its larger image with informational details.
-
Copper Mallow -or- Scarlet globemallow -or- Caliche globemallow -or- Cowboy's Delight -or- Scarlet Falsemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea), family Malvaceae (Mallow)
The following is a quote from WIKIPEDIA: 'Sphaeralcea coccinea (Scarlet Globemallow) is a perennial plant growing 10-30 cm tall from spreading rhizomes with a low habit. They have grayish stems with dense, star-shaped hairs and alternately arranged leaves. The leaf blades are 2-5 cm long, palmately shaped, and deeply cut, with 3-5 main wedge-shaped segments. The undersides of the leaves have gray hairs. The 2-cm-wide flowers are reddish-orange and saucer-shaped, with 5 notched, broad petals, in small terminal clusters. Plants flower from May to October. This species is native to grasslands and prairies of the Great Plains and western regions of northern North America. The globemallows (or globe mallows) are members of the genus Sphaeralcea in the mallow family (Malvaceae). There are about 40-60 species, including annuals, perennials, and shrubs. Most originate in the drier regions of North America, with some known from South America. Another often-used common name is falsemallows.' End quote.
USES:
This is one handy plant. The website Native American Ethnobotany has records of many uses of the plants by Native Americn tribes: Cheyenne Drug (Ceremonial Medicine) Plant used in ceremonies. Lakota Drug (Dermatological Aid)
Poultice of chewed roots applied to sores. Navajo, Kayenta Drug
Plant used as a ceremonial fumigant ingredient. Dried plant used as a dusting powder for sores. Plant used as a lotion for skin diseases. Plant used as a tonic to improve appetite. Plant used for hydrophobia (rabies). Plant used as a medicine to give singer strength. Used to make a beverage. Navajo, Ramah Drug (Panacea)
Plant used as "life medicine." Lakota Other (Protection)
Roots chewed and hands rubbed with the roots by heyoka men to protect their hands in scalding water. Root juices used by medicine men for protection of hands from fire or boiling water. Keres, Western Drug (Gynecological Aid) Roots used by women when they become pregnant. Navajo Drug (Witchcraft Medicine) Infusion of plants taken for diseases produced by witchcraft. There are quite a few more. Copy Sphaeralcea coccinea, go here, paste into the search field and hit your enter key.
Flowers in this frame found in Legion Park (near Boulder) - Colorado - June 2, 2010
Flower -
Plant location: Found while hiking in the William Frederick Hayden Park - May 17, 2015 - near Lakewood Colorado. Also called Hayden/Green Mountain. Our original sighting of Copper Mallow was at Pawnee Butte in 2008 and 2009. The plants are found in plains and foothills areas, elevations from 4,500' to 8,500'. At full maturity the plants stand about 16 inches tall. Plant -
Bloom period: May to October.Foliage -
William Frederick Hayden Park - May 17, 2015 - near Lakewood Colorado
The Colorado State University Extension website describes the foliage of coccinea in detail: lower leaves very deeply palmately (like a hand) divided, silvery from dense, stellate (star-shaped) hairs. Examine the edges of the foliage in this macro shot for an example of stellate hairs. -
William Frederick Hayden Park - May 17, 2015 - near Lakewood Colorado
-
William Frederick Hayden Park - May 17, 2015 - near Lakewood Colorado
The Montana Plant Life website offers a great technical description of coccinea flowers: orange, saucer-shaped, about 2 cm wide, with 5 broad, notched petals, in small terminal clusters. The stalks are much shorter than the calyx. Lower bracts at the flower bases are leaflike, the upper ones reduced and soon falling off. Calyx 5-lobed, usually without bracteoles. Stamens numerous, joined to a tube toward the base, freed singly higher up. The flower view, and this frame particularly, show the stamen characteristic very well. -
-
Pawnee Butte - June 4, 2009 - Colorado
A different plant view. -
-
Pawnee Butte - June 4, 2009 - Colorado
Copper Mallow and Primrose spreading their wings to the skies. -
-
Legion Park (near Boulder) - Colorado - June 2, 2010
-