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Gooseberryleaf globemallow

Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia

Summary 7

Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family known by the common name gooseberryleaf globemallow. It is a perennial herb native to the western United States and is common in disturbed areas, such as habitats recently cleared by wildfire.

Botanical Information 8

The characteristics of Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia are quite unique. The color of this beautiful plant's flower petals is light-medium orange and rarely rose pink. The center that makes up the stamen and pistil is a bright yellow. The stem of the flower is fern green with a very light blue tint, due to the fuzz that is often found on the stem. The leaves on the stem are pinnately lobed with 3-5 lobes. The stems grow about one to three feet tall. It is a short-lived perennial with a lifespan of 2-3 years.

Ecological Information 9

Their habitat is mostly located in Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and the Intermountain West. These plants are found in an elevation range between 2,600 to 7,500 feet. It is tolerant to drought and cold winter temperature. Its blooming season ranges from May to October. This plant doesn’t really need a lot of resources to survive. This plant also thrives in areas that get a lot of sun.

Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia is consumed by four specific animals and the plant is perfectly healthy and nutritional for them. These animals are domestic sheep, pronghorn, elk, and deer. This plant isn’t very compatible with cattle as it is not very good for them and their digestion. This plant is also eaten by rabbits, small rodents, grasshoppers, and Mormon crickets.

Ethnobotanical Information 9

If you crush the leaves of globemallow, you will notice a gooey, slippery substance produced that is the consistency of mucous. This property of the plant is known as "mucilaginous" and is what makes it good in decreasing inflammation of the skin or gut. The pulverized root of copper globemallow has been used by the Tewa people as a poultice applied to snakebite wounds to pull out the venom and to help heal the tissue. (Note: Ethnographic reports often lack important contextual information and relevant traditional ecological knowledge.) The leaves may be made into a cold infusion used to encourage tissue healing of the mucous membranes of the digestive system, promote healthy gut bacterial growth, and tone the immune system and kidneys. Some drink the tea as a general health tonic to bring balance to the immune system, aiding in recovery from chronic and recurring illnesses such as autoimmunity, tumors, and moving lingering illnesses past their plateau.

References 10

USDA, ("Fire Effects Information System"), Undated
https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/sphgro/all.html
https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_spgr2.pdf
Dara Saville, "The Sandias" New Mexico Ecological Herbalism Series, University of New Mexico. March 2020. Class Lecture

About the Author 9

Student author*: Rylie (age 15) from The International School at Mesa Del Sol

*The entries in this field guide have been edited by Yerba Mansa Project staff to ensure that they contain quality, fact-checked content and standardized formatting. https://yerbamansaproject.org/

Sources and Credits

  1. (c) Jerry Oldenettel, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/jroldenettel/9344061950/
  2. (c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/plant_diversity/5144285962/
  3. (c) Biodiversity Heritage Library, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/biodivlibrary/6260573080/
  4. (c) Andrey Zharkikh, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://www.flickr.com/photos/zharkikh/8928832179/
  5. (c) Andrey Zharkikh, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://www.flickr.com/photos/zharkikh/8928822297/
  6. (c) Andrey Zharkikh, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://www.flickr.com/photos/zharkikh/8928811937/
  7. Adapted by caseynm from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphaeralcea_grossulariifolia
  8. Adapted by albuquerqueherbalism from a work by (c) smiller33, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
  9. Adapted by albuquerqueherbalism from a work by (c) caseynm, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
  10. Adapted by Hannah from a work by (c) caseynm, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

iNat Map

Flower orange, red
Type herb
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