Taxon Details

Sphaeralcea rusbyi var. eremicola

Rusby's desert-mallow

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Taxon Summary:

Sphaeralcea rusbyi var. eremicola, commonly known as Rusby's desert-mallow, is a perennial herb in the Malvaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Joshua tree "woodland", and Mojavean desert scrub, growing at elevations from 975 to 1645 meters. Sphaeralcea rusbyi var. eremicola is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Scientific Name:
Sphaeralcea rusbyi Gray var. eremicola (Jeps.) Kearn.
Common Name:
Rusby's desert-mallow
Family: Malvaceae
Element Code: PDMAL140L1
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:
Name Status: JEF, FNA, POWO,
IPNI, Tropicos
Lifeform: perennial herb
Blooming Period: Mar-Jun
JFMAMJJASOND
Elevation:
975 - 1645 meters
3200 - 5395 feet
General Habitats:
  • Joshua tree "woodland"
  • Mojavean desert scrub
Microhabitat Details:
Microhabitat:
Notes:
Known only from Death Valley NP (INY Co.) and near Clark Mtn. (SBD Co.). Threatened by grazing. See Manual of the Flowering Plants of California, p. 635 (1925) by W.L. Jepson for original description.
Threats:
Taxonomy:
Threat List Total: 9
Total EOs % of EOs
EOs with Threat Listed: 32 46 %
THREAT LIST:
Development 14 20%
Road/trail construction/maint. 11 15%
Grazing 10 14%
Mining 9 13%
ORV activity 9 13%
Total Occurrences: 69
Element Occurrence Ranks:
A B C D X U
7 15 3 1 0 43
Occurrence Status:
Historical >20 Years 11
Recent <=20 Years 58
Presence:
Presumed Extant 69
Possibly Extirpated 0
Presumed Extirpated 0
California Endemic:
California Island:
States: Name (Code)
California (CA)
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Inyo (INY), Riverside (RIV), San Bernardino (SBD)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Blackwater Mine (3511577), Cima (3511525), Cima Dome (3511535), Clark Mtn. (3511555), Cottonwood Canyon (3611753), Cow Cove (3511536), Emigrant Canyon (3611742), Emigrant Pass (3611732), Fountain Peak (3411585), Indian Cove (3411612), Ivanpah Lake (3511554), Marl Mountains (3511526), Mescal Range (3511545), Mesquite Lake (3511565), Mineral Hill (3511544), Pachalka Spring (3511556), State Line Pass (3511564), Valley Wells (3511546)
Notes:
Definitions of codes following a county and/or quad:
* Presumed extirpated
(?) Occurrence confirmed, but possibly extirpated
Quad and county data is imported from the CNDDB. Species may be present in other areas where conditions are favorable. These data should NOT be substituted for pre-project review or for on-site surveys.
Presumed Extant
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