Sidalcea
(from Sida, and Alkea, an ancient Greek name, used by Dioscorides for some Malva; alluding to the appearance and alliances of the plants). ORD. Malvaceae. A genus comprising eight species of hardy, mostly perennial herbs, with the habit of Malva or Althaea, natives of Western North America. Flowers shortly pedicellate or sessile, disposed in terminal racemes or spikes; calyx five-cleft; petals rose-purple or white; staminal column duplex at apex. Leaves mostly lobed or parted. S. candida and S. malvaeflora, perhaps the only species in cultivation, require culture similar to Malva (which see).
S. candida (white). fl. white, in terminal racemes, freely produced. Summer. l. roundish, seven-lobed, glossy, long-stalked. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Colorado, 1882.
S. malvaeflora (Mallow-flowered). fl., corolla lilac; racemes many-flowered; pedicels twice as long as the calyx. Summer. l., radical ones orbicular, loosely five to nine-lobed or incised-crenate; primary ones sub-truncate at base; cauline ones profoundly seven to nine-cleft; segments trilobed, toothed at apex, the uppermost ones entire. Stem twiggy, slender. h. 1 1/2ft. Texas, 1838. (B. R. 1036, under name of Sida malvaeflora.) SYN. Callirhoe spicata (R. G. 737.)