Home/Species/ Jones' Globemallow

Sphaeralcea caespitosa

M.E. Jones

Jones' Globemallow

G2Imperiled Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →

G2ImperiledGlobal Rank

HighThreat Impact

Identity

Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.148832

Element CodePDMAL14030

Record TypeSPECIES

ClassificationSpecies

Classification StatusStandard

Name CategoryVascular Plant

Endemicendemic to a single nation

KingdomPlantae

PhylumAnthophyta

ClassDicotyledoneae

OrderMalvales

FamilyMalvaceae

GenusSphaeralcea

Other Common Names

Tufted Globemallow (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 Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2

Review Date2021-10-01

Change Date2000-06-14

Edition Date2021-10-01

Edition AuthorsRoth, E. (1987), rev. D. Atwood, rev. D. Gries (1998), rev. L. Morse (2000), rev. C. Nordman (2021).

Threat ImpactHigh

Range Extent5000-20,000 square km (about 2000-8000 square miles)

Number of Occurrences6 - 20

Rank Reasons

Sphaeralcea caespitosa is known from at least seven occurrences in Utah and six occurrences covering fairly extensive acreage in Nevada. It occurs on both federal and state lands. Changes in land use, industrial expansion, over collecting, and mineral and energy exploration are threats to this species.

Range Extent Comments

Jones' Globemallow occurs in the western United States, it is endemic to the Great Basin. There are two varieties, Sphaeralcea caespitosa var. caespitosa occurs in Beaver and Millard Counties in Utah. Sphaeralcea caespitosa var. williamsiae occurs only in northwestern Nye and eastern Lincoln counties, Nevada (Flora of North America Editorial Committee 2015, NatureServe 2021, SEINet 2023).

Occurrences Comments

There are an estimated 15 occurrences of Jones' Globemallow. There are at least six occurrences in Nevada, and at least seven occurrences in Utah (NatureServe 2021, SEINet 2021).

Threat Impact Comments

Threats to Jones' Globemallow include industrial development, grazing, oil and gas drilling, mining, and over collecting of these plants (NatureServe 2021).

Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Jones' Globemallow occurs in Utah on the Sevy Dolomite Formation and on calcareous and dolomite gravels, at elevations of 1370 to 1955 meters. It occurs in mixed desert shrub communities with shadscale, matchweed, rabbitbrush, and winterfat, and with Indian ricegrass and galleta (Welsh et al. 2015). In Nevada it occurs on limestone gravels, or sandy or clay soils with limestone gravel. Associated plants include shadscale, budsage, horsebrush, and ephedra (NatureServe 2021, SEINet 2023).

Terrestrial Habitats

Forest/WoodlandWoodland - ConiferShrubland/chaparralDesert

Other Nations (1)

United StatesN2

Province	Rank	Native
Nevada	S2	Yes
Utah	SNR	Yes

Threat Assessments

Threat	Scope	Severity	Timing
1 - Residential & commercial development	Small (1-10%)	Serious or 31-70% pop. decline	High (continuing)
1.2 - Commercial & industrial areas	Small (1-10%)	Serious or 31-70% pop. decline	High (continuing)
2 - Agriculture & aquaculture	Large (31-70%)	Slight or 1-10% pop. decline	High (continuing)
2.3 - Livestock farming & ranching	Large (31-70%)	Slight or 1-10% pop. decline	High (continuing)
3 - Energy production & mining	Restricted (11-30%)	Serious or 31-70% pop. decline	High (continuing)
3.1 - Oil & gas drilling	Restricted (11-30%)	Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline	High (continuing)
3.2 - Mining & quarrying	Restricted (11-30%)	Serious or 31-70% pop. decline	High (continuing)
5 - Biological resource use	Restricted (11-30%)	Serious - moderate	High (continuing)
5.2 - Gathering terrestrial plants	Restricted (11-30%)	Serious - moderate	High (continuing)

Plant Characteristics

DurationPERENNIAL, Long-lived

Economic Value (Genus)No

Roadless Areas (1)

Nevada (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Bald Mtn.	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	41,598

References (7)

Alexander, J. 2016. The Utah Native Plant Society Rare Plant List: Version 2. Calochortiana. 3: 1-248.
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.
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.
Morefield, Jim. Personal Communication. Botanist, Nevada Natural Heritage Program, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Carson City, Nevada.
NatureServe. 2021. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2023. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2023).
Welsh, S.L., N.D. Atwood, S. Goodrich, and L.C. Higgins. (Eds). 2015. A Utah flora, fifth edition, revised 2015. Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum, Provo, Utah. 987 pp.

Sphaeralcea caespitosa

Habitat

—