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78. SPHÆRALCEA MINIATA, Spach, Hist. Nat. Veg.3. p. 352? Gray, Gen. Ill. t. 230. Malva miniata, Cav. Ic. 3. p. 40. t. 278. Fields and wet meadows, Santa Fé; June, in flower, August, with mature fruit. — This plant was also gathered by Lieut. Abert. The native country of Malva miniata, Cav. Was not recorded. But that the plant is a Sphæralcea would appear from the character of "capsulæ dispermæ," (although in fact only one seed commonly ripens,) and I suspect that this is the very species, although the flowers are not so large as is represented in the figure of Cavanilles. Our plant is herbaceous. — The Sphæralcea stellata, Torr. & Gray, Fl. l.c. is probably only a smaller-flowered variety of S. angustifolia. Sphæralcea rivularis [1], Torr.! ined. (Malva rivularis, Dougl.) has been ascertained by Dr. Torrey to be the same as S. acerifolia, Nutt. Malva vitifolia [2], Cav. is probably another species of the genus nearly allied to the last. S. incana, Torr. ined. Gathered by Lieut. Abert in New Mexico, and also by Wislizenus, is perhaps too nearly related to our No. 78, but more canescent with a closer and finer pubescence: S. Emoryi, Torr. ined. is still another allied species, with hastate and triangular leaves and a rougher pulverulaceeous tomentum. S. pedata, Torr. ined., gathered in Fremont’s third expedition, has 3–5-sected leaves; the divisions all cuneiform, 3-lobed and incised.


  1. Sphaeralcea rivularis is now Iliamna rivularis
  2. Malva vitifolia Cav. is now Kearnemalvastrum lacteum.

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