Plant Name
Scientific Name: Rhynchosida physocalyx
Synonym: Sida physocalyx
Common Names: Buffpetal, Buff Petal, Tuberous Sida, Bladderpod Sida
Plant Characteristics
Duration: Perennial
Growth Habit: Subshrub, Herb/Forb
Arizona Native Status: Native
Habitat: Desert, Upland, Riparian. This somewhat weedy wildflower grows in canyons, along washes, and in mesquite bosques.
Flower Color: Light buff-yellow to orange-yellow
Flowering Season: Spring, Summer, Fall
Height: To 16 inches (41 cm) tall, but mostly trailing
Description: The flowers are 3/4 inch (1.9 cm) across and have 5 broad, overlapping petals that are equal in length to the green sepals. Each flower and fruit is contained within a large, inflated, 5-ribbed calyx. The leaves have toothed, haired margins and are green, alternate, stiffly hairy, and oblong to lanceolate in shape. The stems are green and trailing to ascending. The plants are covered with scattered stellate hairs and have a large taproot.
Classification
Kingdom: Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass: Dilleniidae
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae – Mallow family
Genus: Rhynchosida Fryxell – rhynchosida
Species: Rhynchosida physocalyx (A. Gray) Fryxell – buffpetal
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