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Plant Profile

Bush's Poppy-mallow (Callirhoe bushii)

This rare poppy mallow is known for its fuschia flowers and hairy stems. Photo Credit: Casey Galvin
  • Global Rank: G3 - Vulnerable
  • Legal Status: N/A
  • Family: Malvaceae
  • State: AR, IA, KS, MO, OK
  • Nature Serve ID: 161637
  • Lifeform: Forb/herb
  • Date Inducted in National Collection: 05/28/1986
Description:

Callirhoe bushii is a lovely member of the poppy family, producing striking magenta flowers. First described in 1909, the plant was named in honor of Benjamin Franklin Bush (1858-1937), a prominent botanist of the time. However, considerable debate ensued over the true taxonomic status of the species and only recently has the name C. bushii been accepted as correct (Dorr 1990). As are many other Callirhoe species, C. bushii is a popular garden plant and can be purchased from many nurseries. Gardeners should remember to always ask nursery dealers the source of their plants, however, and NEVER buy wild-collected plants.

Where is Bush's Poppy-mallow (Callirhoe bushii) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Open rocky woodlands, edges of glades, prairies, and railroad right-of-ways, mostly in calcareous soils (Morgan 1980).Often found with Verbesina helianthoides, Campanula americana, Ampelopsis cordata, Campsis radicans, Cassia sp., Melilotus alba, Rudbeckia triloba, Polymnia canadensis, Smilax sp., Clematis virginiana (Morgan 1980).

Distribution:

Found in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.

States & Provinces:

Bush's Poppy-mallow can be found in Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma

Which CPC Partners conserve Bush's Poppy-mallow (Callirhoe bushii)?

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

  • 10/02/2020
  • Genetic Research

Chromosome research (C. Bushii has 28) (Bates et al. 1989).

Nature Serve Biotics
  • 05/02/2017

Taxonomy now clarified (Dorr 1990); 49 post-1970 occurrences known from 4 states.

Kimberlie McCue, Ph.D.
  • 01/01/2010

The primary threat to C. bushii is loss of habitat to development Mowing, herbicides and other disturbances threaten populations near roads and rights-of-way (Morgan 1980, Wallace 1984).

Kimberlie McCue, Ph.D.
  • 01/01/2010

Approximately 50 populations among the four states in which C. bushii occurs. Individuals are scattered within population boundaries, occurring singly or in small groups.

Kimberlie McCue, Ph.D.
  • 01/01/2010

Chromosome research (C. Bushii has 28) (Bates et al. 1989).

Kimberlie McCue, Ph.D.
  • 01/01/2010

A management plan for the Hollister Railroad site in Taney County, Missouri was developed, calling for the elimination of herbicide application at the site and the initiation of selective cutting of trees and shrubs (Morgan 1980, Wallace 1984). Hollister Railroad has one of the largest populations of C. bushii.

Kimberlie McCue, Ph.D.
  • 01/01/2010

Management needs include eliminating herbicide use along roadsides and railroad tracks where C. bushii occurs, Limiting mowing and selective cutting, controlling succession of woody plants and maintain open habitat and obtaining information on life history traits (Wallace 1984).

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Nomenclature
Taxon Callirhoe bushii
Authority Fern.
Family Malvaceae
CPC Number 673
ITIS 21783
USDA CABU8
Duration Perennial
Common Names Bush's poppy-mallow | Bush's poppymallow | bush poppymallow
Associated Scientific Names Callirhoe bushii | Callirhoe involucrata var. bushii | Callirhoe papaver var. bushii
Distribution Found in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.
State Rank
State State Rank
Arkansas S3
Iowa SU
Kansas S1
Missouri S2
Oklahoma S3
Ecological Relationships

Photos
Pollinators
Common Name Name in Text Association Type Source InteractionID
Bees
Sweat bees Agapostemon texanus Pollen Robber Link
Leaf-cutting bees Anthidium palmarum Nectar Robber Link
Honey bees Apis mellifera Pollen Robber Link
Cellophane bees Colletes scopiventer Nectar Robber Link
Chimney bees Diadasia afflicta Confirmed Pollinator Link
Chimney bees Diadasia rinconis Nectar Robber Link
Sweat bees Dialictus pruinosiformis Nectar Robber Link
Sweat bees Halictus ligatus Confirmed Pollinator Link
Sweat bees Halictus tripartitus Nectar Robber Link
Sweat bees Lasioglossum Confirmed Pollinator Link
Leaf-cutting bees Lithurgus littoralis Nectar Robber Link
Leaf-cutting bees Megachile amica Nectar Robber Link
Long-horned bees Melissodes intorta Confirmed Pollinator Link
Long-horned bees Melissodes tristis Confirmed Pollinator Link
Mining bees Perdita texana texana Nectar Robber Link
Bees Confirmed Pollinator Link
Butterflies & Moths
Grass moths Mimoschinia rufofascialis novalis Nectar Robber Link
Window-winged moths Thyris maculata Nectar Robber Link
Butterflies Confirmed Pollinator Link
Beetles
Scarab beetles Euphoria kerni Floral Visitor Link
Scarab beetles Euphoria kerni Nectar Robber Link
Scarab beetles Trichiotinus texanus Nectar Robber Link
Beetles Confirmed Pollinator Link
Flies
Soldier flies Nemotelus Nectar Robber Link
Flies Confirmed Pollinator Link

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