Henderson’s Checkermallow: the natural, botanical and conservation history of a rare estuarine species. Kalmiopsis

When Louis Henderson collected the type specimen ofHenderson’s checkermallow (Sidalcea hendersonii) in1887, he could scarcely have foreseen that this beautiful species of Pacific Northwest coastal estuaries would become a forgotten and overlooked member of the region’s flora, nor that his namesake would, over 100 years later, become the focus of intensive research and conservation initiatives to rescue it from the brink of extinction. While the plight of this rare member of the Malvaceae is disheartening, research on Henderson’s checkermallow has yielded fascinating tales of botanical history, physical peril, sexual intrigue, predatory insects, and scientific discovery. In addition, conservation efforts for this species have provided a useful case study in grassroots activism, endangered species bureaucratic processes, and initiation of recovery actions