Sida cordifolia
| Sida cordifolia | |
|---|---|
| |
| Photo by Patricia Howell, Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants |
| Class: | Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons |
| Order: | Malvales |
| Family: | Malvaceae |
| Genus: | Sida |
| Species: | S. cordifolia |
| Binomial name | |
| Sida cordifolia L. | |
| |
| Natural range of Sida cordifolia from USDA NRCS Plants Database. | |
Common name: ‘ilima
Contents
[hide]Taxonomic notes
Description
S. cordifolia is a shrub that grows up to 1.5 meters tall. Leaves are heart shaped, serrate and truncate. Flowers are small, yellow or white, solitary and axillaries. Seeds are grayish black and smooth[1].
Distribution
It is a Native of India, however, it is also found in Florida, Alabama, and Texas[1].
Ecology
Habitat
Grows in damp climates and in waste areas[1].
Phenology
Flowers from August to December, fruits October to January[1].
Pollination
The following Hymenoptera families and species were observed visiting flowers of Sida cordifolia at Archbold Biological Station (Deyrup 2015):
Apidae: Apis mellifera
Halictidae: Agapostemon splendens, Augochloropsis metallica, Lasioglossum pectoralis, L. placidensis, L. tamiamensis
Megachilidae: Anthidiellum notatum rufomaculatum, Anthidium maculifrons, Coelioxys mexicana, Megachile albitarsis, M. texana
Pompilidae: Ageniella faceta ventralis
Conservation and management
Cultivation and restoration
S. cordifolia is highly recognized for its medicinal properties: it contains ephedrine, vasicinol, vasicinone, and N-methyl tryptophan. Traditional medicine has used it to treat chronic dysentery, and asthma[2].
Photo Gallery
Flowers of Sida cordifolia Photo by Bob Upcavage, Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants
References and notes
Deyrup, M.A. and N.D. 2015. Database of observations of Hymenoptera visitations to flowers of plants on Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA.
