Carnegiea gigantea, Giant Saguaro

Southwest Desert Flora

Home to the plants of the Sonoran, Chihuahuan and Mojave Deserts

Cirsium ochrocentrum, Yellowspine Thistle

Rhynchosida physocalyx, Buffpetal

Rhynchosida physocalyx, BuffpetalRhynchosida physocalyx, BuffpetalRhynchosida physocalyx, BuffpetalRhynchosida physocalyx, BuffpetalRhynchosida physocalyx, Buffpetal


Scientific Name: Rhynchosida physocalyx
Common Name: Buffpetal
Also Called: Bladderpod Sida, Buff Petal, Tuberous Sida
Family: Malvaceae, Globe Mallow Family
Synonyms: (Sida physocalyx)
Status: Native
Duration: Perennial with a large taproot, stems trailing to ascending, pubescence of coarse stellate hairs.
Size: Up to 3 feet.
Growth Form: Forb/herb, subshrub; large tuber-like root.
Leaves: Green; up to 2 inches, oblong-ovate, also coarsely pubescent, margins ciliate.
Flower Color: Yellow, orange, orange-yellow; solitary in leaf axils, inflated strongly 5-angled calyx, fruit a schizocarp with 8 to 10 segments (mericarp).
Flowering Season: March to October.
Elevation: 2,500 to 5,000 feet.

Habitat Preferences: Canyons, waterways; rich soils.

Recorded Range: Rhynchosida physocalyx is found in the southwest United States in AZ, NM, TX and marginally in OK. In Arizona it occurs in central and southern parts of the state, small populations in southern New Mexico and scattered throughout Texas. This species is also native to from northern Mexico to South America.

North America & US County Distribution Map for Rhynchosida physocalyx.

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: 1 species in Rhynchosida in the United States.

The Plant List includes 5 scientific plant names of species rank for the genus Rhynchosida. Of these 2 are accepted species names.

Comments: Buffpetal is of low value to deer and livestock.

Date Profile Completed: 11/23/2015, updated format 09/28/2017
References:
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service on-line database and USGS ITIS search
Arizona Flora, Kearney, Thomas H., Peebles, Robert H., 1960, University of California Press, Berkley and Los Angeles, California, as Sida physocalyx.
The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Published on the Internet; http://www.theplantlist.org/ (accessed 11/23/2015).
http://www.theplantlist.org/1.1/browse/A/Malvaceae/Rhynchosida/
Native Plant Information Network, NPIN (2013). Published on the Internet http://www.wildflower.org/plants/ [accessed: 11/23/2015]. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at The University of Texas, Austin, TX.
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=RHPH2
Fryxell, Paul A. 1994. Malvaceae. J. Ariz., Nevada Academy of Science, Volume 27(2), 222-236.
SEINet for synonyms, scientific names, recorded geographic locations and general information
http://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/.
Everitt, J.H., D.L. Drawe, and R.I. Lonard. 1999. Field guide to the broad leaved herbaceous plants of South Texas used by livestock and wildlife. Texas Tech University Press. Lubbock.