RANGELANDS15(3), June 1993 127 Globemallows Bruce M. Pendery and Melvin D. Rumbaugh We initiated research on the ecological and forage ona, New Mexico, and Texas have the most species. characteristicsof globemallows(Sphaeralcea) in 1986 Sphaeralcea coccinea is the most widely distributed during a search for beneficialforbs that are well adapted species. to cold desertand steppe rangelands receivingless than Generally, globemallowspecies in the U.S. are peren- 12 inches of precipitation annually. Globemallows are nial, cool-season forbs or half-shrubs (Shaw andMonsen well adapted to such stressful environments. They also 1983, Pendery and Rumbaugh 1986). Most have showy are native species, which may be desired or required in orangeflowers borneon multiple stems that arise from a some situations. basalcrown. However, S. coccinea is moreprostrate and spreadsby rhizomes. In the western U.S. globemallows Characteristics and Ecology grow best in open or disturbed sites (especially road- Globemallows (see cover photos)are in the family Mal- sides) on sandy- to clay-loamsoils, or on gravelly foot- vaceae,which includes species such as cotton, okra, and hills receivingabout 8 to 12 inches of precipitationannu- hollyhock. Sphaeralcea occurs primarily in North and ally (Wasser 1982). Sphaeralcea grossulariifoliais found South America (Kearney 1935). There are 25 globemal- on alkaline soils and tolerates moderate salinity, but it low species on western U.S. rangelands (Table 1). Ariz- does not tolerate sodic soils. Recentwork hasshed lighton globemallowlife-history This article is a cooperativeinvestigation of the USDA-ARS and the Utah Agricultural ExperimentStation, Logan,Utah. Journal PaperNo. 4384. strategies,which may improveour management abilities. Authors are range scientist and retired Research Geneticist, respectively, Under natural conditions establish USDA,Agricultural Research Service, Logan.Utah 84322-6300. globemallows during The authors wishto thank H.F. Mayland, R. Stevens, and H. Horton for favorableyears, or on relatively favorablesites, survive for reviewingan earlier draft ofthis manuscriptand making helpful suggestions for improvement. a fewyears, and then persist at lower densities or in seed Table 1. Giobemallowspecies occurring inthe western U.S.1'2. An "X" Indicatesa specieshas been reported from a particular state. U.S. PostalService state abbreviationsare used to Indicatestate names. States of occurrence Species AZ CA CO ID KS MT NE NV NM ND OK OR SD TX UT WA WY S. ambigua X X X X S. angustifolia X X X X X X X X S. caespitosa X X S.coccinea3 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X S. coulteri X X S. digitata X X X S.emoryi X X X X S. fend/en X X X X X S. grossulaniifo/ia X X X X X X X X S. hastulata X X S. incana X X X S. janeae X S.!axa X X X S. leptophylla X X X X X S. !indheimeni X S. munroana X X X X X x x x x S. orcuttii X X S. parvifolia X X X X X X S. pedatifida X S. procera X S. psoraloides X S. rusbyi X X X S. subhastat a X X X S. wrightii X X X S. polychroma X X 'Forty-threefloras and plant atlaseswere consulted to preparethis list.They are notincluded in theliterature cited, butare available from the authors. Synonyms have not been included. 2Species occurring in CanadaareS. coccinea (British Columbia,Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba)andS. munroana(British Columbia).Species occurring in Mexico are: S. angustifolia,S. coccinea, S. digitata, S. ambigua,S. axillaris, S. coulteri,S. ernoryi, S. endiichii, S. fuiva,S. hastulata, S. Iaxa, S. fendleri,S. hainesii,S. incana, S. leptophylla,S. orcuttii, S. pedafifida, S. wrightii, S. paimeni, and S. suiphurea(Fryxell 1988). S. coccineaalso occurs in Iowa and Minnesota. 128 RANGELANDS15(3), June 1993 banks. In in the Mojave Desert, S. ambiguaestablished Table 2. 2N chromosomenumbers reported for several globemal- spaces between larger shrubs, where it led a "fugitive" low speciesin the western U.S. An "X" indicatesthat a particular life, avoiding interactionswith other plants (Wright and 2N chromosomenumber has been reported for a species. Howe 1987). Henderson et al. (1988) foundthat globemal- low seeds and plants had the patchydistribution common 2N chromosome number' in arid land plant communitieswhere thereare few "safe Species 10 20 30 50 Source2 sites." There were no associations or strong (positive S. ambigua X X X 1,2 negative) with otherspecies, indicatingreduced competi- S. angustifolia X X X 3 tion in a harsh environment. Ehleringer and Cooper S. caespitosa X 4 (1988) characterized S. as a short-lived,oppor- S. coccinea X X X 1,2 ambigua S. coulteri X 1 tunistic that established wet species probably during S. digitata X 1 years but possiblyhad higher mortality during dry years S.emoryi X X X 1 due to relatively low water-use efficiency.The photogra- S. fend/en X X X 1,3 S. grossulari- X X 2 phic record of Sharp et al. (1990) seems to confirm that ito/ia globemallowsestablish during wet years, but die back S. incana X X 1,3 during dry years. S.!axa X 1 The role of nonstructuralcarbohydrates in the grazing S. Iindheimeri X 1 toleranceof S. munroana X X 2 globemal lows has been the subjectof several S. orcuttii X 1 studies (Trlica et al. 1977, Menke and Trlica 1981, Menke S. parvifolia X X 1,2 and Trlica 1983). With few exceptions, root and crown S. pedatitida X 1 nonstructural S. rusbyi X X 1 carbohydrateconcentrations in defoliated S. subhastata X X 1 S. coccinea did not differ from unclippedplants; however, S. wrightii X 3 S. coccinea could be sensitive to fall grazing because of S. polychroma X 3 its carbohydrateaccumulation patterns. 'Webber (1936) reported haploid (N) chromosomenumbers. et al. found that a 21 Webber(1936), 2 Rumbaughet al. (1989),3 LaDuke (1986), and 4 R. Pendery (submitted) single spring- R-C. Wang (personal time defoliation did not affect S. munroana total non- communication). structural carbohydrateamounts (pools). They also found relative utilizationof globemallows(S. coccinea, S. mun- that carbohydratesin roots and crowns accounted for roana, S. grossulariifolia,and S. alfalfa, and 7% of the total parvifolia), only biomass in S. munroana regrowth crested wheatgrass was as follows: defoliation. Meristematic characteristics and following 1988 flexibility in the allocation of are more (fall) alfalfa> grass > globemallow carbohydrates 1989 (fall) grass> alfalfa > globemallow important than the total amountof carbohydratesfor the 1990 (spring) alfalfa > globemallow> grass regrowth of defoliation bunchgrasses (Richards and 1991 (spring) alfalfa > globemallow> grass. Caldwell and the 1985), same may betrue of globemallows. They concludedthat globemallows were acceptable, but not forbs which can be seeded in envi- Genetics and Reproduction highly preferred, ronments where alfalfa or other more desirable species Sphaeralcea is a morphologicallyvariable and complex are not adapted. genus. Its geneticsand taxonomy have been extensively Rumbaugh et al. (1993b) concluded that forage from revised (Kearney 1935, Fryxell 1988). Diploid, tetraploid, pastures containing Hycrest' crested wheatgrass and hexaploid,and decaploid forms of globemallowsoccur globemallows would meet dietaryelemental requirements (Table2). This variability may be due to active evolution; for beef cattle and sheep in the spring and fall. They also the species are apparentlypoorly genetically delimited. found that globemallows were similar to Spredor 2' intergradationamong species is common,probably as a alfalfa in elemental constituentvalues in the spring and result of interspecific hybridization. Globemallows are fall. strongly outcrossing and are pollinatedby insects. Sev- eral types of bees are important pollinators, especially Cultural Considerations Diadasia (Hymenoptera: Anthophoridae). Seed Production,Harvesting, and Cleaning NutritionalValue and Utilization Sphaeralcea grossulariifoliaseed is usually collected by hand or machinefrom wild land standsduring July or Globemallowsare utilized by wildlife and livestock,but August (Wasser 1982). To maximize yield, plants should S. coccineais theonly species that has been shown to be be harvested whenthe lowest globes start to split and the heavilyutilized in a variety of environments (Hyder et al. majorityare just ready to open. Globesat this time will be 1975, Howard et al. 1990, Rumbaugh et al. 1993a). light green-brown. At the time of maximal seed yield, an Sphaeralcea coccinea is a prominent component of estimated 15%of the globes of S. coccinea andabout 25% nativeplant communitieson theGreat Plains, but it is less of S. munroana, S. grossulariifolia, and S. parvifolia commonin the Intermountainarea. globes were ripe (Pendery and Rumbaugh 1990). This Rumbaugh et al. (1993a) conducted a 4-year grazing emphasizes the indeterminate seed ripeningof giobemal- trial with sheep in southern Idaho and found that the lows,which is a problemfor commercial seed production. RANGELANDS15(3), June 1993 129 Dry seed can be cleaned with a seed cleanerin combina- erosionwhile otherspecies in a seeding establish. Globe- tion with a debearderto remove seed from capsules, and mallowsdo not produceas much forageas other selected then recleaned on a clipper or fanning mill if necessary. foragespecies whenseeded on siteswith fertile soils and The limited supply of commerciallyavailable seed ranges which receive morethan 12 inches precipitationannually. from about $35 to $65 per pound. However, they will be advantageous in seeding mixtures Seeding Procedures for sites where high heat and drought stress restrict the Globemallow seed can be