-Sphaeralcea polychroma is described from New Mexico, Texas and Chihuahua. Seven populations have been sampled and are tetraploid at 2n=20. The species exhibits considerable variability in flower color from the characteristic grenadine of the genus. During recent revisionary studies in Sphaeralcea St. Hil. section Fendlerianae Kearn. (Malvaceae), a new species was discovered and is described below. Sphaeralcea polychroma La Duke, New Species (Fig. 1) DESCRIPTION.-.Sphaeralcea procera accedens sed fructibus breviurceolatis, carpellis 4-5.5 mm alatis, cuspidibis usque ad 1 mm longis plerumque reflexis. Erect herbaceous multi-stemmed perennial, to 200 cm tall, densely white or yellow pubescent of stellate hairs with numerous rays. Leaf blades deltate with subhastate lobes to deeply trilobed, base cuneate with 3(or 5) veins, margin crenate to toothed, blades to 70 mm long, to 50 mm wide, secondary lobes to 22 mm long. Petioles to 20 mm long. Inflorescence, a many flowered panicle. Pedicels 10-30 mm long. Bractlets of the involucel to 3 mm long. Calyx at anthesis 6-7 mm high, with elongate deltate lobes. Petals variously colored including white, pink, lavender, purple, grenadine, and red, 10-13 mm long, often well separated at the base. Staminal column 6-8 mm long, weakly pubescent. Fruit short-urceolate, usually equalling or slightly exceeding the calyx. Carpels 12-14, (3.5-)4-5.5 mm high, 2-3 mm wide, with the chartaceous dehiscent portion erect, forming 50-75% of the carpel, with usually reflexed cusps to 1 mm long, the indehiscent portion reticulate, attaching threads stout. Seeds, black, brown, or gray, 1-2 per carpel, slightly pubescent. 2n=20. Type: United States: New Mexico: Sierra County; at the intersection of NM 55 and road to Hot Springs Landing along Rio Grande, 6 July 1982, La Duke & La Duke 717 (Holotype: US; isotypes: GFND, and to be distributed). Representative specimens.-MEXICO: Chihuahua: 3-5 mi SE of Nueva Casas Grandes, 9 May 1959, Correll & Johnston 21650* (NY, LL); 13.2 mi SW of road to Palomas on Mexico 2, 17 July 1983, La Duke & Phillips 955* (GFND); 85 mi SSE of Cd. Juarez, 21 August 1971, Henrickson 5832 (TEX); 20.9 mi E of Buena Vista on Mexico 10, 24 May 1978, Lehto & Broom L22791 (ASU, NY); UNITED STATES: New Mexico: Bernalillo County: Albuquerque, August 1884, Jones s. n. (F); Dona Ana County: Rincon, 9 September 1884, Jones s. n. (POM); .2 mi E of 1-25 on NM 140, 7 July 1982, La Duke 720* (GFND); Lincoln County: 3.4 mi W of US 54 on US 380, 14 July 1983, La Duke 928* (GFND); Sierra County: 2.7 mi N of NM 90 on 1-25, 6 July 1982, La Duke & La Duke 718 (GFND); 3.8 mi W of 1-25 on NM 90, 10 July 1983, La Duke 890 (GFND); 6.3 mi E of Elephant Butte Damsite on NM 52, 10 July 1983, La Duke 897* (GFND); 7.3 mi THE SOUTHWESTERN NATURALIST 30(3):433-436 28 AUGUST 1985 This content downloaded from 157.55.39.170 on Wed, 19 Oct 2016 04:20:35 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms The Southwestern Naturalist