Sida cordifolia |
Sida antillensis |
|
---|---|---|
bala, country mallow, flannel weed, great-leaf sida, heart-leaf sida, ilima |
antilles fanpetals, West Indian sida |
|
Habit | Subshrubs or shrubs, to 1.5 m. Stems erect, stellate-tomentose. | Subshrubs, 0.5(–1) m. Stems erect, glabrescent. |
Leaves | stipules free from petiole, 1-veined, linear, 5–8 mm, shorter than petiole; petiole 10–25 mm, to 1/2 length of blade, stellate-tomentose; blade broadly cordate to ovate-lanceolate, to 6 cm, reduced distally, 1–2 times longer than wide, base cordate, margins dentate to base, apex acute, surfaces softly velvety-tomentose. |
stipules free from petiole, 1-veined, linear, 3–6 mm, subequal to petiole; petiole 2–5 mm, ca. 1/4 length of blade, glabrescent; blade lanceolate-elliptic to round, 1.5–5 cm, somewhat longer than wide, base truncate, margins dentate apically, entire basally, apex acute or obtuse, surfaces minutely hairy. |
Inflorescences | axillary, usually subsessile, crowded panicles or corymbs, sometimes solitary flowers. |
axillary solitary subsessile flowers. |
Pedicels | 0.2–0.4 cm, enlarging slightly in fruit, shorter than calyx. |
not slender, 0.4–1.2 cm, usually shorter than calyx. |
Flowers | calyx prominently ribbed, 6–7 mm, densely stellate-tomentose, lobes ovate; petals yellow-orange, often with darker reddish base, 8–11 mm; staminal column hairy; style 8–14-branched. |
calyx ribbed, 5–8 mm, glabrescent, lobes acute or acuminate; petals yellow, 6–8 mm; style 8–10-branched. |
Schizocarps | oblate-conic, 6–7 mm diam., apically hairy; mericarps 8–14, 4–5 mm, dorsally smooth, apex spined, spines to 2 mm, retrorsely barbed (variably developed, rarely suppressed). |
subconic, 5–6 mm diam., glabrous; mericarps 8–10, laterally reticulate, apex spined, spines to 1.5 mm, puberulent. |
2n | = 28. |
|
Sida cordifolia |
Sida antillensis |
|
Phenology | Flowering year-round. | Flowering year-round. |
Habitat | Disturbed sites, savannas, open shrublands, pinelands | Roadsides, disturbed sites, often in sandy areas |
Elevation | 0–300 m (0–1000 ft) | 0–50 m (0–200 ft) |
Distribution |
AL; FL; TX; Asia [Introduced in North America; introduced also in Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America, Africa, Australia]
|
FL; Central America; West Indies |
Discussion | A velvety-tomentose herb sometimes used in herbal medicines, Sida cordifolia is believed to have originated in India, but has been widely spread in warmer regions globally. In many areas it is considered to be an invasive weed. There is considerable variation in the flower color patterns; the velvety-tomentose indument and retrorsely barbed, relatively large or conspicuous spines can help in identification. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Sida antillensis has been found in Collier, Hendry, Lee, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties, where it is generally said to be introduced. It is widespread in the West Indies and could be native to parts of coastal Florida. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 6, p. 313. | FNA vol. 6, p. 313. |
Parent taxa | Malvaceae > subfam. Malvoideae > Sida | Malvaceae > subfam. Malvoideae > Sida |
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | S. althaeifolia, S. pellita | |
Name authority | Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 2: 684. (1753) | Urban: Symb. Antill. 5: 418. (1908) |
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