ARS | Publication request: First Report of Rust of Sidalcea malviflora (Dwarf Checkerbloom) Caused by Puccinia sherardiana in Washington State

Submitted to: North American Fungi
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: October 6, 2011
Publication Date: October 14, 2011
Citation: Dugan, F.M., Nazaire, M. 2011. First Report of Rust of Sidalcea malviflora (Dwarf Checkerbloom)Caused by Puccinia sherardiana in Washington State. North American Fungi 6(15):1-5.

Interpretive Summary: Sidalcea species (checkerbloom, checkermallow) are distant relatives of common hollyhock, and are often featured in garden catalogs. Compared to hollyhocks, checkerblooms tend to be less suscepible to rust disease. Native populations of checkerbloom (various species) have been documented in the western United States, including an endangered subspecies of S. malviflora in Washington State. This report documents the first finding in Washington State of one rust, Puccinia sherardiana, on a garden favorite, Sidalcea malviflora.

Technical Abstract: Puccinia sherardiana is first reported on Sidalcea malviflora in Washington State. The rust occurs on many other taxa in the Malvaceae in numerous geographic locales, and seeds of S. malviflora are widely available for gardeners, but reports of the rust on S. malviflora are rare.