kruzenjessica's Identifications

Pt. 7, 4960 ft, Bug Springs Trailhead. Open low pinyon-juniper woodland on a steep, dry, stony NW-facing slope with diverse Upper Sonoran understory.

Of four Sphaeralcea's listed for the Sta. Catalina Mts by Tedford (2014), I'm having a hard time differentiating between S. emoryi, fendleri, and laxa, all three of which have been collected at low to mid elevations along this highway. The densely stellate-canescent stems and leaves (see last image) seem best to match S. emoryi, for which there is a specimen record precisely at this location (Jim Verrier 168 in ARIZ herbarium).

An explanation of this elevational transect can be found with this observation:
http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/3090533