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bala, country mallow, flannel weed, great-leaf sida, heart-leaf sida, ilima

earleaf fanpetals, noseburn-leaf sida

Habit Subshrubs or shrubs, to 1.5 m. Herbs or subshrubs, perennial, 0.5 m.
Stems

erect, stellate-tomentose.

erect, minutely stellate-hairy, hairs 0.3–0.4 mm, sometimes also with staminal column hairy;

style 8-branched.

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.

Inflorescences

axillary, usually subsessile, crowded panicles or corymbs, sometimes solitary flowers.

Pedicels

0.2–0.4 cm, enlarging slightly in fruit, 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.

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).

oblate, 5–6 mm diam., apically hairy;

mericarps 8+, 3 mm, strongly reticulate laterally, apically dehiscent, apex 2-spined or not, spines to 1 mm, sometimes suppressed, apex hispid.

2n

= 28.

Sida cordifolia

Sida tragiifolia

Phenology Flowering year-round. Flowering spring–fall.
Habitat Disturbed sites, savannas, open shrublands, pinelands Arid shrublands
Elevation 0–300 m (0–1000 ft) 500–1500 m (1600–4900 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AL; FL; TX; Asia [Introduced in North America; introduced also in Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America, Africa, Australia]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AZ; TX; Mexico (Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas)
[BONAP county map]
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.)

Within the flora area, Sida tragiifolia is known in Graham, Pima, and Santa Cruz counties, Arizona, and in Brewster, Cameron, Hidalgo, and Presidio counties, Texas.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 6, p. 313. FNA vol. 6, p. 318.
Parent taxa Malvaceae > subfam. Malvoideae > Sida Malvaceae > subfam. Malvoideae > Sida
Sibling taxa
S. abutilifolia, S. antillensis, S. ciliaris, S. elliottii, S. glabra, S. hermaphrodita, S. lindheimeri, S. littoralis, S. longipes, S. neomexicana, S. planicaulis, S. rhombifolia, S. rubromarginata, S. santaremensis, S. spinosa, S. tragiifolia, S. ulmifolia, S. urens
S. abutilifolia, S. antillensis, S. ciliaris, S. cordifolia, S. elliottii, S. glabra, S. hermaphrodita, S. lindheimeri, S. littoralis, S. longipes, S. neomexicana, S. planicaulis, S. rhombifolia, S. rubromarginata, S. santaremensis, S. spinosa, S. ulmifolia, S. urens
Synonyms S. althaeifolia, S. pellita
Name authority Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 2: 684. (1753) A. Gray: Boston J. Nat. Hist. 6: 164. (1850)
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