Arrowleaf sida (Sida rhombifolia)

Sidaguri or arrowleaf sida (Sida rhombifolia) is a species of plant in the Malvaceae, shrub, cylindrical stem, erect to broad and branched, up to 120 cm high, woody, bark scaly, top dark green or red, underside light brown .

S. rhombifolia has elongated oval leaves, dark green, arranged alternately along the stem, 4-8 cm long, pointed or rounded ends, serrated margins and sometimes has a dark red band.

Single flower on peduncle arising from the area between stem and petiole, 5 petals 4-8 cm long, cream to orange-yellow in color, and may be slightly reddish in center. The petals overlap asymmetrically and have a long lobe on one side. The stamens are united in short columns.

The fruit is a ribbed capsule that breaks into 8 to 10 segments.

Sidaguri grows in agricultural lands, roadsides, rocky areas, cattle pens, savannas, shrubs, hillsides and swamp forests at elevations below 2000 meters.

This plant is used to treat ulcers, asthma in infants, high fever, antidiarrheal, lung colds, anticrotal, serum venom of rattlesnakes and black widow spiders, a substitute for marijuana.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Subfamily: Malvoideae
Tribe: Malveae
Genus: Sida
Species: Sida rhombifolia
Subspecies: Sida rhombifolia ssp. insularis, Sida rhombifolia ssp. rhombifolia Variety: Sida rhombifolia var. scabrida, Sida rhombifolia var. serratifolia

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