Nelson’s checker-mallow (Sidalcea nelsoniana) is a native perennial plant that grows from southwestern Washington to west-central Oregon and blooms from May to July. They are pollinated by bumblebees, bees, and beetles (Giblin, 2003+).

The earth laughs in flowers

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Description

Nelson’s checker-mallow flowers have five pinkish-lavender petals that are wide and notched at the end (obovate and notched), and individual flowers are organized within narrow, cone-like clusters (raceme) on flower-bearing stems. There are two types of leaves on the Nelson’s checker-mallow. The lower leaves are shallowly lobed with rounded teeth on the edge of the leaf, and the upper leaves are pointed and linear. All leaves are alternately arranged. The whole plant can vary, either being smooth or covered in hairs. (Giblin, 2003+).

Source: Washington State Department of Natural Resources, n.d.

Photo credit: Nelson Checker mallow plant wild fields flower (Dillon, 2013)

Habitat

Its habitat includes meadows, prairies, or grasslands (Washington Department of Natural Resources, n.d.) that are lower elevation with well-drained soil (Giblin, 2003+). They are typically near plants like sedges, tall fescue, western buttercups, common velvet grass, common rush, and oxeye daisy (Washington Department of Natural Resources, n.d.). In Washington, Nelson’s checker-mallow has been found in Lewis and Cowlitz counties (Giblin, 2003+).

Status

***** Status References: WA State: WA-DNR North America: NatureServe Global: IUCN Red List *****

As of 2021, Nelson’s checker-mallow is endangered in Washington (Washington DNR, n.d.). Federally, however, the plant has been delisted from the federal list of endangered and threatened species as of 2023.

Threats

Nelson’s checker-mallow was originally listed in 1993 due to land development for agriculture, limiting water due to stream channel alteration, and more, causing declines in populations. Despite being removed from the federal list, Nelson’s checker-mallow still faces habitat loss (though to a lesser extent due to management and conservation efforts) and could suffer from changing hydrological cycles which would dry out its habitat (United States Fish and Wildlife Service, 2023).

Conservation

Conservation efforts for Nelson’s checker-mallow have been highly successful, leading to its delisting from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Plants. Key conservation activities included habitat management practices, including mowing and prescribed burning, which mimic natural disturbances necessary to maintain prairie habitats and prevent them from turning into woodlands. These practices help control invasive species and promote the growth of native plants​ (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2023)​. Additionally, efforts to restore and maintain wet meadows and prairie habitats were crucial in reducing habitat fragmentation and degradation, which were primary threats to the species​ (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,2023)​​ .

Monitoring will continue for five years post-delisting to ensure that Nelson’s checker-mallow remains secure from the risk of extinction​ (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2023)​. The comprehensive approach taken by multiple stakeholders exemplifies how effective partnerships can lead to significant conservation achievements.

Nature Art

Cover art credit: Nelson Checker mallow plant wild fields flower (Dillon, 2013)

References

Click here to view the references used for this post

Dillon, J., U.S. Fish and Wildlife (2013). Public Domain. Nelson checker mallow plant wild fields flower [Photograph]. Retrieved July 20, 2024, from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nelson_checker_mallow_plant_wild_fields_flower.jpg

Giblin, D.E. & B.S. Legler (eds.). 2003+. Sidalcea nelsoniana. In: WTU Image Collection Web Site: Vascular Plants, MacroFungi, & Lichenized Fungi of Washington State. University of Washington Herbarium. Accessed 01 Aug 2024. https://www.burkeherbarium.org/imagecollection/.

NatureServe Explorer. (n.d.). Sidalcea nelsoniana. NatureServe. Retrieved July 21, 2024, from https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.135057/Sidalcea_nelsoniana

Smith, I. (2024). Nelson’s Checker-mallow Botanical Illustration. [photograph of painting].

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (2023). Prairie conservation continues to blossom in the Pacific Northwest. https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2023-10/prairie-conservation-continues-blossom-pacific-northwest

Washington State Department of Natural Resources. (n.d.). Natural Heritage Program field guide. Retrieved July 21, 2024, from https://www.dnr.wa.gov/NHPfieldguide

Washington State Department of Natural Resources. (n.d.). Sidalcea nelsoniana (Nelson’s checker-mallow). Retrieved July 21, 2024, from https://www.dnr.wa.gov/publications/amp_nh_sine2.pdf

Washington State Department of Natural Resources. (n.d.). Vascular plants: Endangered, threatened, and sensitive [PDF]. https://www.dnr.wa.gov/publications/amp_nh_vascular_ets.pdf

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