About Sidalcea oregana (Nutt. ex Torr. & A.Gray) A.Gray
Sidalcea oregana is a perennial herb that grows from a woody taproot, reaching maximum heights well over one meter. It is typically hairy in texture, with thick, bristly hairs toward the base of the stem. Most of its leaves grow low on the stem, either basal or borne on long petioles. Leaf blades are usually deeply divided into lobes, while upper leaves may be split further into separate leaflets. The inflorescence is a spikelike raceme holding many flowers, and this raceme may be either dense or open. Each flower has five pink petals up to 2 centimeters long, which are usually notched at the tip, and a central tube that holds the plant’s reproductive parts. This species is native to western North America, ranging from British Columbia through California to Utah, where it grows in a variety of moist habitat types including marshes and meadows. The species is variable in overall appearance, and it is split into several subspecies; some authors additionally recognize varieties within these subspecies. Ecologically, Sidalcea oregana acts as a larval host plant for the West Coast lady butterfly.
