Sida spinosa

Linnaeus

Sp. Pl. 2: 683. 1753.

Common names: False or Indian or prickly mallow prickly sida
Weedy
Synonyms: Sida alba Linnaeus S. alnifolia Linnaeus S. angustifolia Miller S. heterocarpa Engelmann
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 6. Treatment on page 318. Mentioned on page 311.

Subshrubs or herbs, annual or perennial, 0.2–1 m, rarely taller. Stems erect, minutely stellate-hairy, hairs to 0.5 mm. Leaves: stipules free from petiole, 1-veined, subulate, 3–6 mm, 1/2 as long as petiole; petiole 5–15 mm, usually 1/4–1/2 length of blade, sometimes shorter, minutely stellate-hairy, hairs to 0.5 mm, usually with small spinelike tubercle on stem just below its attachment; blade ovate, lanceolate, or narrowly oblong, 2–6 cm, smaller apically, 2–5 times longer than wide, base subcordate, margins crenate-serrate to base, apex usually acute, surfaces stellate-tomentulose abaxially, glabrate adaxially. Inflorescences axillary solitary or 2–4 clustered flowers. Pedicels 0.5–1 cm, subequal to calyx and subtending petiole. Flowers: calyx angulate, 5–7 mm, minutely tomentose, lobes triangular; petals yellow, rarely white, 5 mm; staminal column glabrous; style 5-branched. Schizocarps subconic, 4–5 mm diam., hairy; mericarps 5, 3–4 mm, somewhat rugose, apex spined, spines 1 mm, antrorsely hairy. 2n = 14, 28.


Phenology: Flowering year-round in warmer areas, summer elsewhere.
Habitat: Roadsides, pastures, disturbed ground
Elevation: 0–1500 m

Distribution

V6 583-distribution-map.jpg

Ont., Ala., Ariz., Ark., D.C., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., La., Md., Mass., Mich., Miss., Mo., Nebr., N.J., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Pa., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va., W.Va., Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America.

Discussion

A small spur sometimes is present on the abaxial side of the petiole at the juncture with the stem, to which the specific epithet refers. It is not a spine and occasionally is absent.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Sida spinosa"
Paul A. Fryxell† +  and Steven R. Hill +
Linnaeus +
False or Indian or prickly mallow +  and prickly sida +
Ont. +, Ala. +, Ariz. +, Ark. +, D.C. +, Fla. +, Ga. +, Ill. +, Ind. +, Iowa +, Kans. +, Ky. +, La. +, Md. +, Mass. +, Mich. +, Miss. +, Mo. +, Nebr. +, N.J. +, N.C. +, Ohio +, Okla. +, Pa. +, S.C. +, Tenn. +, Tex. +, Va. +, W.Va. +, Mexico +, West Indies +, Central America +  and South America. +
0–1500 m +
Roadsides, pastures, disturbed ground +
Flowering year-round in warmer areas, summer elsewhere. +
Sida alba +, S. alnifolia +, S. angustifolia +  and S. heterocarpa +
Sida spinosa +
species +