Taxon Report

Sidalcea pedata Gray

bird-foot checkerbloom

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Taxon Summary

Sidalcea pedata, commonly known as bird-foot checkerbloom, is a perennial herb in the Malvaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Meadows and seeps (mesic), and Pebble (Pavement) plain, growing at elevations from 1600 to 2500 meters. Sidalcea pedata is ranked 1B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.


  Classification

Scientific Name:
Sidalcea pedata Gray
Common Name:
bird-foot checkerbloom
Family: Malvaceae
Element Code: PDMAL110L0
USDA Plants Symbol: SIPE4
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial herb
Blooming Period: May-Aug May-Aug
Elevation: 1600-2500 (5250-8205)
General Habitats: Meadows and seeps, Pebble (Pavement) plain
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Total Occurrences: 24
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 1
   Good (B) 5
   Fair (C) 2
   Poor (D) 2
   None (X) 10
   Unknown (U) 4
California Endemic:  True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
San Bernardino (SBD)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Big Bear City (3411637), Big Bear Lake (3411628), Fawnskin (3411638), Keller Peak (3411721)*, Moonridge (3411627)*

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 15
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
20 83 %
Development 15 62%
Altered flood/tidal/hydrologic regime 12 50%
Non-native plant impacts 12 50%
ORV activity 10 41%
Recreational use (non-ORV) 9 37%
Wood cutting or brush clearing 9 37%
Grazing 8 33%
Foot traffic/trampling 7 29%
Other 6 25%
Vandalism/dumping/litter 5 20%
Road/trail construction/maint. 4 16%
Erosion/runoff 2 8%
Biocides 1 4%
Dam/Inundation 1 4%
Non-native animal impacts 1 4%

Notes

Seriously threatened by development, erosion, foot traffic, grazing, illegal dumping, non-native plants, and vehicles. Protected in part at Baldwin Lake ER (DFG). See Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 22:288 (1887) for original description, and Fremontia 13(1):22-23 (1985) for species account.
Threats:
Taxonomy:
Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 5 February 2025].