Sidalcea malvaeflora
(Malvaceae)
The richly colored pink petals of checkerbloom are made even more luminous by the white petal venation. This widespread species consists of a puzzling complex of intergrading morphological variants throughout its range. Leaf shape can also vary considerably on a single plant. The fruits developing from a single flower consist of many leathery disk- or wedged-shaped segments packed together in a circle like orange segments.
DISTRIBUTION: Common in open places in forest, scrub, or grasslands throughout the Calif. Floristic Province; < 2300 m.