In 1849 Asa Gray named this genus and both the species pictured below from specimens collected by Augustus Fendler in 1847 in "moist meadows" in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  (Fendler's words as quoted in Intermountain Flora.)

    "Sid" is Latin for "star".

Montane, subalpine. Streamsides, wetlands. Summer.
Little Taylor Creek Trail, July 28, 2005.
Near Chris Park Trail, July 12, 2007.

Checker Mallow grows straight, slim, and tall (to three feet) and has clusters of two inch white flowers making it an attractive and conspicuous plant.  Look for it in the same moist forests and meadows that Rudbeckia ampla grows in.  The two often grow so densely that they completely obscure the ground with their tall luxuriant growth.

"Candida" is Latin for for "brilliant white".

Montane, subalpine. Streamsides, wetlands. Summer.
Little Taylor Creek Trail, July 28, 2005.

Montane, subalpine. Streamsides, wetlands. Summer.
Kilpacker Trail, August 29, 2005.

Dense patches of S. candida are the common growth pattern.

Montane, subalpine. Streamsides, wetlands. Summer.
Little Taylor Creek Trail, August 20, 2007.

Montane, subalpine. Streamsides, wetlands. Summer.
Haviland Lake Trail, June 28, 2004.

Both the upper deeply incised leaves (right of center) and the basal round leaves (bottom center) belong to this slim, lost-in-the-grasses Mallow.  The lovely abundance of rose-magenta flowers attracts your attention and then you find the plants growing to several feet tall in widely spread colonies.  

Montane, subalpine. Streamsides, wetlands. Summer.
Haviland Lake Trail, July 1, 2005.

Montane, subalpine. Streamsides, wetlands. Summer.
Haviland Lake Trail, July 1, 2005.

Montane, subalpine. Streamsides, wetlands. Summer.
Lone Mesa State Park, June 6, 2009.

A close look at basal leaves and stems shows numerous silky hairs.

Montane, subalpine. Streamsides, wetlands. Summer.
Haviland Lake Trail, July 1, 2005.

Nearly circular and lobed basal leaves; more deeply incised mid-plant leaves; and deeply incised upper leaves all belong to Sidalcea neomexicana.

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Sidalcea candida

Range map for Sidalcea neomexicana