Home/Species/ Owens Valley Checker-mallow

Sidalcea covillei

Greene

Owens Valley Checker-mallow

G2Imperiled Found in 6 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →

G2ImperiledGlobal Rank

HighThreat Impact

Identity

Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.128285

Element CodePDMAL11040

Record TypeSPECIES

ClassificationSpecies

Classification StatusStandard

Name CategoryVascular Plant

Endemicendemic to a single state or province

KingdomPlantae

PhylumAnthophyta

ClassDicotyledoneae

OrderMalvales

FamilyMalvaceae

GenusSidalcea

Other Common Names

Owens Valley sidalcea (EN)

Concept Reference

Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.

Conservation Status

Rank MethodLegacy Rank calculation - Excel v3.1x

Review Date2017-01-24

Change Date2017-01-24

Edition Date2017-01-24

Edition AuthorsMaybury, K., rev. R. Bittman (2006, 2017), rev. Treher (2018)

Threat ImpactHigh

Range Extent1000-5000 square km (about 400-2000 square miles)

Number of Occurrences21 - 80

Rank Reasons

Sidalcea covillei is endemic to California's Owens Valley (Inyo County) and currently known from 42 occurrences. Several large populations (over 100,000 individuals) currently exist. However, the species was much more abundant in the past. The primary reasons for the decline are uncertain; excessive ground water pumping, ground and surface water diversions, and/or long-term drought may have played a role. Some of the extant populations are in poor condition. The primary threat to this species is grazing.

Range Extent Comments

Sidalcea covillei is endemic to Inyo County, California.

Threat Impact Comments

Grazing is the most significant threat to this species. Other threats include weed invasion, ORV use, hydrology changes, and development.

Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

This species occurs on alkaline meadows, seasonally or permanently moist due to high ground water or lateral flow from nearby streams.

Terrestrial Habitats

Grassland/herbaceous

Palustrine Habitats

TEMPORARY POOLHERBACEOUS WETLAND

Other Nations (1)

United StatesN2

Province	Rank	Native
California	S2	Yes

Plant Characteristics

DurationPERENNIAL

Economic Value (Genus)No

Roadless Areas (6)

California (6)

Area	Forest	Acres
Coyote North	Inyo National Forest	11,932
Coyote Southeast	Inyo National Forest	53,159
Horton	Inyo National Forest	5,717
Paiute	Inyo National Forest	58,712
Tinemaha	Inyo National Forest	27,060
Wonoga Pk.	Inyo National Forest	11,272

References (5)

Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2015. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 6. Magnoliophyta: Cucurbitaceae to Droserceae. Oxford University Press, New York. 496 pp + xxiv.
Hickman, J. C., ed. 1993. The Jepson manual: Higher plants of California. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA. 1400 pp.
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Manning, S.J. 1995. Report on 1994 rare plant site visits. Unpublished report to Inyo County/Los Angeles Technical Group. Inyo County Water Department. 16 pp.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1996. Draft Owens Basin wetland and aquatic species recovery plan, Inyo and Mono counties, California. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, Oregon. 133 pp.