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Home/Species/ Wanatchee Mountains Checker-mallow

Sidalcea oregana var. calva

C.L. Hitchc.

Wanatchee Mountains Checker-mallow

T1T1 (G5T1) Found in 4 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
T1T1Global Rank
HighThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.146695
Element CodePDMAL110K4
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationVariety
Classification StatusNonstandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderMalvales
FamilyMalvaceae
GenusSidalcea
Other Common Names
Oregon Checkerbloom (EN) Oregon Checker-mallow (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.
Taxonomic Comments
Sidalcea oregana var. calva is an accepted taxon in the 2nd Edition of Flora of the Pacific Northwest (Hitchcock and Cronquist 2018). Hill's treatment in FNA (2015, vol. 6) accepted subspecies and not varieties within Sidalcea, he included Sidalcea oregana var. calva in the synonymy of S. oregana ssp. oregana with the other previously recognized varieties of the subspecies, but says, "A case can be made for recognition of var. calva C. L. Hitchcock, which has been listed as endangered both federally and in Washington, where it is endemic. These plants are generally robust, sparsely appressed-hairy with four-rayed hairs, the leaves are generally nearly glabrous and fleshy-textured, and the calyx lobes are subglabrous and ciliate. Found in the Wenatchee Mountains, an area of high endemism, var. calva does not appear to be much different from other, nearly glabrous populations elsewhere; it appears to be the only variety with a chromosome count of 2n = 60. This treatment does not accept both subspecies and varieties within Sidalcea; therefore, it has been placed here into synonymy with the wide-ranging, variable typical subspecies." ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System) does not accept S. oregana var. calva as distinct from S. oregana ssp. oregana (Nov. 9, 2022).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2023-07-10
Change Date1990-05-04
Edition Date2023-07-10
Edition AuthorsGamon, John G. (1992), rev. A. Tomaino (2009), rev. C. Nordman (2023).
Threat ImpactHigh
Range Extent<100 square km (less than about 40 square miles)
Number of Occurrences1 - 5
Rank Reasons
Wanatchee Mountains Checker-mallow (Sidalcea oregana var. calva) occurs in the northwestern United States, it is endemic to a small area of the Wenatchee Mountains within Chelan County, Washington. As of 2023, the range extent is estimated to be 7 square kilometers. There are only four extant native occurrences and one introduced population, there are five extirpated occurrences. This taxon is threatened by high levels of seed predation by weevils and other insects, and forest succession partially due to lack of fire. The largest occurrence is mostly within the Washington DNR, Camas Meadows Natural Area Preserve.
Range Extent Comments
Wanatchee Mountains Checker-mallow (Sidalcea oregana var. calva) occurs in the northwestern United States, it is endemic to a small area of the Wenatchee Mountains within Chelan County, Washington. As of 2023, the range extent is estimated to be 7 square kilometers, it's historic range extent is estimated to have been 94 square kilometers (Fertig 2022, NatureServe 2023).
Occurrences Comments
As of 2022, Sidalcea oregana var. calva was known from four extant native occurrences and one introduced population, there are five extirpated occurrences (Fertig 2022, USFWS 2004).
Threat Impact Comments
Threats include hydrological disturbance because this plant requires saturated soils in the spring and early summer, ground disturbance associated with timber harvest, development, and agriculture, competition from non-native grasses, infestation by aphids, and predation by livestock (USFWS 2004). Also threatened by seed predation by weevils, succession in meadow habitats due to lack of fire, and loss of pollinator populations (Zimmerman and Reichard 2005). Eighty-three percent of seeds examined in a 2002 study were found to be damaged by weevils (Zimmerman and Reichard 2005). Seed predation by weevils and other insects, particularly aphids, ranged up to over 70 percent in a 2006-2007 study (Arnett and Birkhauser 2008). Weevil predation and other insect damage is having a negative impact on seed production and reproductive success; it is estimated that the percentage of seed that successfully reaches maturity is between 8 and 32 percent, likely closer to 8 percent (Arnett and Birkhauser 2008).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Moist meadows with surface water or saturated upper soils into early summer. Sites generally dominated by perennial herbs and rhizomatous, perennial grasses; deciduous and coniferous trees and shrubs including Pinus ponderosa, Pseudotsuga menziesii, and Populus tremuloides may also be present (USFWS 2004). May occur along permanent or intermittent streams, near seeps, springs, or small drainages (USFWS 2004). It has been found in Rocky Mountain Alpine Montane Wet Meadow and Northern Rocky Mountain Lower Montane Riparian Wetland and Shrubland ecological systems, at 335-1160m (1100-3800 ft) elevation (Fertig 2022).
Palustrine Habitats
HERBACEOUS WETLANDSCRUB-SHRUB WETLANDFORESTED WETLANDBog/fenRiparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN1
ProvinceRankNative
WashingtonS1Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial developmentRestricted (11-30%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh - moderate
2 - Agriculture & aquacultureLarge - restrictedModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
2.3 - Livestock farming & ranchingLarge - restrictedModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
5 - Biological resource useRestricted (11-30%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
5.3 - Logging & wood harvestingRestricted (11-30%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
7 - Natural system modificationsLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
7.1 - Fire & fire suppressionLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseasesLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (4)
Washington (4)
AreaForestAcres
Alpine Lakes Adj.Wenatchee National Forest57,104
Devils GulchWenatchee National Forest24,419
EntiatWenatchee National Forest72,617
TeanawayWenatchee National Forest72,849
References (16)
  1. Arnett, J., and K. Birkhauser. 2008. Monitoring seed predation of <i>Sidalcea oregana </i>(Nutt.) Gray var. <i>calva </i>C.L. Hitchcock (Wenatchee Mountain checker-mallow). Washington Natural Heritage Program, Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA.
  2. Fertig, W. 2022. Status and Conservation Assessment of <i>Sidalcea oregana</i> var. <i>calva</i> (Wenatchee Mountains checkermallow). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Section 6 Project: F18AF01213. Washington Natural Heritage Program Report Number: 2022-03. Washington Natural Heritage Program, Washington Department of Natural Resources. Olympia, Washington.
  3. 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.
  4. Gamon, J. 1987a. Report on the status of <i>Sidalcea oregana</i> (Nutt.) Gray var. <i>calva </i>C.L. Hitchcock. Unpublished report submitted to the U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service. Copy on file with the Washington Natural Heritage Program, Olympia, WA. 41p.
  5. Gamon, J. 1987b. Habitat management guidelines for <i>Sidalcea oregana</i> (Nutt.) var. <i>calva </i>Hitchc. on the Wenatchee National Forest. Unpublished report submitted to the Wenatchee National Forest. Copy on file at the Washington Natural Heritage Program office, Olympia, WA. 6p.
  6. Hitchcock, C.L., and A. Cronquist. 2018. Flora of the Pacific Northwest: An illustrated manual. Edited by D.E. Giblin, B. S. Legler, P.F. Zika, and R. G. Olmstead. 2nd edition. Univ. Washington Press, Seattle. xiii + 822 pp.
  7. Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). 2022. Integrated Taxonomic Information System: Biological Names. Online. Available: http://www.itis.gov.
  8. 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.
  9. Kennison, J.A. and R.J. Taylor. 1979. Status report for <i>Sidalcea oregana</i> var. <i>calva</i>. Biology Department, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA. 8p.
  10. Linsley, E. G., and J. W. MacSwain. 1957. The nesting habits, flower relationships and parasites of some North American species of <i>Diadasia </i>(Hymenoptera; Anthophoridae). The Wasmann Journal of Biology 15: 199-235.
  11. NatureServe. 2023. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
  12. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2004. Recovery plan for <i>Sidalcea oregana </i>var. <i>calva </i>(Wenatchee Mountains Checker-mallow). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, Oregon. x + 52 pp.
  13. Washington Natural Heritage Program. 1981. An illustrated guide to the endangered, threatened and sensitive vascular plants of Washington. Washington Natural Heritage Program, Olympia. 328 pp.
  14. Washington Natural Heritage Program. 1994. Endangered, threatened and sensitive vascular plants of Washington. Dept. of Natural Resources, Olympia, Washington. 52 pp.
  15. Washington Natural Heritage Program and U.S.D.I. Bureau of Land Management. 1998. Field guide to selected rare plants of Washington. Online. Available: http://www1.dnr.wa.gov/nhp/refdesk/fguide/htm/fgmain.htm (accessed 2009).
  16. Zimmerman, T.G., and S.H. Reichard. 2005. Factors affecting persistence of wenatchee mountains checker-mallow: an exploratory look at a rare endemic. Northwest Science 79: 172-178. [http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/org_NWS/NWSci%20journal%20articles/2005%20files/Issue%202&3/09%20Zimmerman.pdf]