The Mallow Hallows

Another plant family lesson, no extra charge! We'll look at the Mallow (Malvaceae) Family. Hooray!

And yes, the treat you roast over a campfire has its roots (pun intended) in a plant of this family called - you guess it - marsh mallow (Althaea officialis).
Marshmallows today, if they aren't the vegan variety (Dandies, Sweet&Sara are the best, IMO), are made with gelatin (i.e., ground up hooves, usually of pigs).

As before, we'll look at characteristics of the 3 Fs: foliage (leaves, basically), flower, and fruit (the thing with the seeds).

Separate petals here means that you could pluck one out without taking another with it. Not that you'd pluck one, mind you.

Examples of chambered fruits below.

Photos by Ned Harris and Matt Ball; hand by highly trained naturalist

The fruits of Mallow family plants are sometimes mistaken for flowers themselves. Each of the compartments or chambers will contain one or more seeds.
More mallows on the morrow!

Sabino Smiles

Photo by Linda Stelljes

Take only photos, leave only smiles : -) And, while you're at it, pick up trash.

Leadwort

All Photos by Marty Horowitz 4/10/2016

Leadwort (Plumbago zeylanica) has delicate white flowers and grows well along the creek in upper Sabino Canyon. Although I've seen some (dubious) claims of medicinal use, do not eat, smoke, or spread. It's highly toxic.

Fruity Goodness

Photos and video by Matt Ball 4/14/2016

My Honey-Matt and I enjoyed watching this (large) Rock Squirrel devouring one Arizona Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus wislizenii) fruit after the next. Here's the short action-packed video.

Fruiting Bodies

Photo © Gene Spesard

These beauties are the fruiting bodies of a moss. We saw these near the creek by the Bear Canyon bridge. (Gene had to get low for this amazing shot.) You're on your own for the moss identity.

Carlowrightia

Photos by Marty Horowitz 4/6/2016

Carlowrightia (Carlowrightia arizonica) flowers are small and very easily missed. (Kudos to Marty and Gene for these great shots.) There are a number of plants along the Bluff Trail.

Close-up © Gene Spesard

Holly and Berries

Photo by Marty Horowitz 3/30/2016

We found one lone Desert Holly (Acourtia nana) blossom along the Esperero Trail before it crosses the road.

Photo by Marty Horowitz 4/6/2016

Also along the Esperero Trail, Graythorn (Zizyphus obtusifolia var. canescens) fruits are forming. The berries are very dark when ripe. Birds and other animals love them.