Sida rhombifolia

Sida rhombifolia L., Sp. Pl. 684. 1753; Parker, For. Fl. Punj. ed. 3. 33. 1956; Fl. China @ eFloras.org 12: 264; Fl. North Amer. @ eFloras.org vol. 6; eFlora India (BSI) vol. 3.

A small annual or perennial undershrub, many branched, to 2.5 m tall. Stems, petioles and peduncles covered with minute stellate hairs or rigid hairs, ultimately glabrescent. Stipules ca. 6 mm long, filiform, 1-veined, hairy. Petioles 4-8 mm long, stellate pubescent, distinctly swollen in the upper third; leaf blades 1.5- 4.1 x 1-2.2 cm, rhombic to oblanceolate, obovate, rarely linear- lanceolate, base broadly cuneate or rounded with generally 5- nerves, margin serrate/ crenate distally, entire proximally, apex acute or obtuse, minutely stellate-pubescent or tomentose by more or less stiff simple hairs on both surfaces. Flowers axillary, solitary or 2-5 in clusters towards ends of branches. Flowers 1.25 cm across. Peduncle 1-2.5 cm (1 cm in flower, up to 2.5 cm in fruit), densely stellate pubescent, articulate near middle. Epicalyx absent. Calyx cupular or campanulate, 5-6 mm long, lobes 5, ca. 2.3 mm long, triangular to ovate, acuminate or acute, abaxially stellate pubescent. Corolla 5, free, ca. 1.25 cm in diameter, petals yellow to pale orange, ca. 8 mm long, obovate, oblique, usually emarginate at apex, base cuneate/ attenuate, hairy on outside. Staminal column ca. 3 mm long, hairy or glabrous. Ovary conical, minutely stellate hairy, styles 8-9. Mericarps 7-9, 3 mm long excluding awns, with 2 short awns dorsally, up to 1.5 mm long, awns stellate hairy or glabrous. Seeds ca. 2 mm across, flattened, glabrous, reniform, brown or black.

Flowering and Fruiting: July to October
Common Names: Arrowleaf Sida, Rhombus-leaved Sida, Paddy’s Lucerne, Jelly Leaf