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Plant Profile

Pedate Checker-mallow (Sidalcea pedata)

Closeup of Sidalcea pedata Photo Credit: Scott Eliason

Global Rank: G1 - Critically Imperiled
Legal Status: Federally Endangered
Family: Malvaceae
State: CA
Nature Serve ID: 151180
Lifeform: Forb/herb
Date Inducted in National Collection:

Description:

The Pedate or Bird-footed checkerbloom (Sidalcea pedata) is a perennial herb with a fleshy tap-root. Stems are few, hairy (slightly to bristly), frequently reddish, and can reach 25 [40] cm. The majority of the leaves are basal, but cauline leaves are also present. Leaves are linear to elliptical and 3[5]-parted. Flowers are deep rose-pink with darker veins and are produced from May to August. Fruits mature between June and August, breaking into 5-6 smooth, slightly beaked parts. Two classes of specimens have been identified, those from the North Baldwin Lake area, and all other populations. The North Baldwin Lake plants have fewer (1-3) flowering stems per plant (versus 10-12) and an earlier flowering time (May-June versus June-August) (Krantz 1979, 1985).

Where is Pedate Checker-mallow (Sidalcea pedata) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Bird-footed checkerbloom is restricted to high elevation (18502350 m) seasonally moist alkaline meadows of the Big Bear Basin in San Bernardino County, California (Federal Register 148). These wet meadows are located within the Yellow Pine Forests (Pinus jeffreyi, Pinus monophylla, or P. contorta var. murrayana) of the Transverse Ranges. Most populations are associated with clay soils that become saline upon drying (Krantz 1979, 1985).

Distribution:

Bird-footed checkerbloom was first collected over 200 years ago by noted naturalist Samuel Parish and was considered locally abundant at the time. Historically, the checkerbloom could be found over m

States & Provinces:

Pedate Checker-mallow can be found in California

Which CPC Partners conserve Pedate Checker-mallow (Sidalcea pedata)?

California Botanic Garden

Not Sponsored

Conservation Actions

Assigned 06/09/17

CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

Conservation Actions

09/29/2020

Most recent research activities have focused on life history and reproductive biology of the bird-footed checkermallow. Dr. J.M. Leong and her students have examined pollination biology and pollinator preference (Leong and Jones 2006, Jones et al. 2007). Their studies show a marked preference (=higher visitation by potential pollinators) for hermaphroditic flowers (over female flowers). This preference may be due to higher sugar content of the nectar content in the hermaphroditic flowers.

09/01/2020

Based on an September 2020 extract of the California Plant Rescue Database, California Botanic Garden holds 6 accessions of Sidalcea pedata in orthodox seed collection. There are as many as 2621 seeds of this species in their collection - although some may have been used for curation testing or sent to back up.

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Endemic to California, Sidalcea pedata is known from approximately ten extant occurrences in the Big Bear Basin in San Bernardino County. Its habitat of wet meadows has been reduced by 85% over the last hundred years. Development remains a serious threat to this taxon, in addition to grazing, vehicle activity, and other threats. It is protected in part at Baldwin Lake Ecological Reserve and at Eagle Point.

Linda Prince

01/01/2010

Approximately 80% of the remaining habitat is privately owned and open for future development. Major threats include: Development Grazing Trampling Off-road vehicles Competition from non-native species These factors have secondary impacts due

Linda Prince

01/01/2010

Seventeen populations remain. Last surveys (1988-1992) found approximately 10,000 plants. Several locations have never been accurately surveyed.

Linda Prince

01/01/2010

Linda Prince

01/01/2010

Fencing to minimize trampling (Ski Beach, Baldwin Lake Ecological Reserve, Belview Meadow) Interpretive signage (Belview Meadow) Removal of non-native herbivores (YMCA: Bluff Lake)

Linda Prince

01/01/2010

Ecological studies to determine soil and hydrologic parameters for transplantation success. Transplanting wild individuals has been done in the past [but was] somewhat unsuccessfully (http://fwie.fw.vt.edu/WWW/esis/lists/e701011.htm) Determine seed germination requirements.

Linda Prince

01/01/2010

Supplement and maintain the seed bank of 4 populations currently housed at RSABG.