Eremalche rotundifolia, Desert Fivespot, Southwest Desert Flora

Eremalche rotundifolia, Desert Fivespot

Desert Fivespot is perhaps one of the showiest wildflowers in the southwestern United States. Flower color variable; lilac, pinkish-purple, mauve and drying violet-purple. Eremalche rotundifolia

Desert Fivespot, sometimes spelled Desert Five-spot is a lovely flower that blooms early spring from March to May. Eremalche rotundifolia

Desert Fivespot is a native annual, a forb or small sub-shrub that grows in dry sandy soils in desert scrub at elevations from 100 to 3,500 feet. Eremalche rotundifolia

Desert Fivespot is a dramatic looking plant with bright green leaves, coarsely crenate and with long mostly simple hairs. This plant grows up to 2 feet or so. (Showy plant in background with yellow flowers is Yellow Cups, Chylismia brevipes). Eremalche rotundifolia

Scientific Name: Eremalche rotundifolia
Common Name: Desert Fivespot
Also Called: Desert Five-spot (Spanish: Malva)
Family: Malvaceae, Globe Mallow Family
Synonyms: (Malvastrum rotundifolium)
Status: Native
Duration: Annual
Size: Up to 2 feet or so.
Growth Form: Forb/herb; subshrub; erect, sometimes branched at base; stems hispid with long mostly simple hairs.
Leaves: Green; coarsely crenate, round-reniform; leaf petioles also hispid with long mostly simple hairs;
Flower Color: Lilac, pinkish-purple, mauve, drying violet-purple; flower petals pinkish-purple, each petal with a bright purple basal blotch or "spot" at base;
Flowering Season: March to May.
Elevation: 100 to 3,500 feet.

Habitat Preferences: Dry sandy soils, dry desert scrub, often in washes.

Recorded Range: Eremalche rotundifolia, Desert Fivespot is found in the southwestern United States in AZ, CA, NV. It is also native to Baja California and northwestern Mexico.

North America & US County Distribution Map for Eremalche rotundifolia.

U.S. Weed Information: No information available
Invasive/Noxious Weed Information: No information available.
Wetland Indicator: No information available.
Threatened/Endangered Information: No information available.

Genus Information: In North America there is 1 species and 1 accepted taxa overall for Eremalche. World wide, The Plant List includes 3 accepted species names and a further 1 infraspecific rank for the genus.

In the Southwestern United States there is 1 species of Eremalche. All data is approximate and subject to taxonomic changes.

Comments: Eremalche rotundifolia is one of the showiest plants in the southwestern United States. The type species is from Fort Mohave (Cooper), Arizona.

In Southwest Desert Flora also see: White Mallow, Eremalche exilis.