Thursday, March 28, 2024
Nature's Pharmacy

7 Similar Species of Sida Acuta and their Characteristic Features

Sida acuta, the common wireweed, is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family, Malvaceae. It is believed to have originated in Central America, but today has a pantropical distribution and is considered a weed in some areas.

In northern Australia for instance, Sida acuta is considered an invasive species, and the beetle Calligrapha pantherina has been introduced as a biological control agent in an attempt to control the plant.

Originating in central America, the small perennial shrub, S. acuta has successfully invaded the tropics worldwide, largely as a contaminant in pasture seed. Its tolerance of a wide range of growing conditions has enabled S. acuta to become established in these diverse habitats.

It infests various crops and habitats, but has been most problematic in pastures and rangelands, particularly in savannah-type biomes with pronounced wet and dry seasons.

It can form dense monospecific stands in these regions, and has had a pronounced economic impact in northern Australia, Papua New Guinea and many Pacific Islands. Since the late 1980s, the foliage-feeding chrysomelid beetle Calligrapha pantherina has been introduced into many areas as a biological control agent specific to S. acuta and related Sida species.

Common Names

Other common names of sida acuta include: stubborn grass, broom grass, broom weed, broomweed, cheese weed, cheeseweed, clock plant, common fanpetals, common wireweed, morning mallow, sida, southern sida, spiny-head sida, spinyhead sida, spiny-headed sida.

Distribution

Sida acuta is widely naturalised throughout the northern parts of Australia. It is most common in the coastal regions of central and northern Queensland and in the northern parts of the Northern Territory.

Relatively common throughout the northern regions of Western Australia and other parts of northern Queensland. Also recorded in other parts of the Northern Territory, in south-eastern Queensland, in the coastal central districts of New South Wales and on several offshore islands (i.e. Norfolk Island, Christmas Island and the Cocos Islands).

Widely naturalised overseas, including in eastern Asia (i.e. China and Taiwan) and on several Pacific islands (e.g. the Galápagos Islands, the Chuuk Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Hawaii, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau and the Solomon Islands).

Sida Acuta Habitat and Habit

A weed of tropical, semi-arid and occasionally also sub-tropical and warmer temperate regions. It invades open woodlands, pastures, waterways (i.e. riparian vegetation), plantations, crops, gardens, disturbed sites, roadsides and waste areas.

Sida acuta is a long-lived (i.e. perennial) herbaceous plant or small shrub (i.e. sub-shrub) usually growing 30-100 cm tall, but occasionally reaching up to 1.5 m in height. However, it often behaves as a short-lived (i.e. annual) plant in the wet-dry savannas of northern Australia.

Distinguishing Features of Sida Acuta

  • A long-lived herbaceous plant or small shrub growing 30-150 cm tall with slender, but tough, stems.
  • Its yellowish-green leaves are usually elongated in shape with toothed margins and sharply pointed tips.
  • Its flowers (1-2 cm across) are borne singly or in small clusters in the leaf forks on short stalks.
  • These flowers have five yellow petals (6-9 mm long) and five sepals.
  • Its fruit (2-6 mm across) break up into 5-8 wedge-shaped segments when mature.
  • These one-seeded segments are topped with two sharp spines (0.5-1.5 mm long).

Stems and Leaves

The slender, yet wiry or slightly woody, stems are branched and either upright (i.e. erect) or spreading (i.e. ascending) in nature. They are sparsely covered with fine, star-shaped (i.e. stellate), hairs.

The leaves are alternately arranged along the stems and borne on short, hairy (i.e. pubescent) stalks (i.e. petioles) 3-7 mm long. These yellowish-green coloured leaves (12-95 mm long and 3-40 mm wide) are usually elongated in shape (i.e. lanceolate) with toothed (i.e. crenate or serrate) margins and pointed tips (i.e. acute or acuminate apices). They are hairless (i.e. glabrous) or sparsely covered in simple or star-shaped (i.e. stellate) hairs.

Flowers and Fruit

The yellow (rarely whitish) flowers (1-2 cm across) are borne singly or in small clusters in the upper leaf forks (i.e. axils). They are borne on short and slender stalks (i.e. peduncles) 2-8 mm long, that elongate up to 15 mm in fruit.

Each flower has five pale yellow, yellow, or pale orange petals (6-9 mm long) and five mostly hairless sepals (5-8 mm long). These pale green sepals are fused together at the base (i.e. into a calyx tube) and have pointed tips (i.e. acute calyx lobes).

The flowers also have numerous (about 100) tiny stamens, with their bases fused to each other, and an ovary topped with a style that is divided into 6-10 branches near its tip. Flowering occurs mostly during late summer, although it may occur throughout the year if conditions are favourable.

The fruit is a hard structure (i.e. schizocarp) that turns from green to dark brown as it matures. These small fruit (2-6 mm across and 3-5 mm high) break up into 5-8 one-seeded segments (i.e. mericarps) when fully mature.

These ‘seeds’ (i.e. mericarps) are wedge-shaped (1.5-2 mm long) and topped with two sharp awns (0.5-1.5 mm long). The true seeds are inside these mericarps, they are smaller (about 1.5 mm long) and reddish-brown to black in colour.

Sida Acuta Reproduction and Dispersal

This species reproduces by seed, which readily attach to animals, clothing and other materials. Seeds may also be dispersed in mud and contaminated agricultural produce.

Read Also: Health Benefits of Stubborn Grass (Sida Acuta)

7 Similar Species of Sida Acuta and their Characteristic Features

7 Similar Species of Sida Acuta and their Characteristic Features

There are also other similar species of sida acuta. For instance, the spiny head sida (Sida acuta) can be confused with spiny sida (Sida spinosa), common sida (Sida rhombifolia), flannel weed (Sida cordifolia), spiked sida (Sida subspicata), spiked malvastrum (Malvastrum americanum) and prickly malvastrum (Malvastrum coromandelianum).

These seven (7) similar species of sida acuta can be differentiated by the following characteristic features along with their pictures:

1. Spinyhead Sida (Sida Acuta)

The spinyhead sida (sida acuta) specie can be identified with the following characteristic features;

Spinyhead sida (sida acuta) has elongated (i.e. lanceolate) leaves that are hairless or sparsely hairy on both surfaces and have pointed tips (i.e. acute apices).

Its flowers are borne singly or in small clusters on short stalks (2-8 mm long) and their sepals (i.e. calyces) are mostly hairless.

The fruit break up into 5-8 wedge-shaped ‘seeds’ (i.e. mericarps) that are topped with two sharp awns (0.5-1.5 mm long).

2. Spiny sida (Sida spinosa)

The spiny sida (sida spinosa) specie can be identified with the following characteristic features;

Spiny sida (Sida spinosa) has elongated (i.e. lanceolate) to relatively broad (i.e. ovate) leaves that are sparsely hairy above and densely hairy on their undersides with blunt or pointed tips (i.e. acute apices).

Its flowers are borne singly or in small clusters on relatively short stalks (3-15 mm long) and their sepals (i.e. calyces) are finely hairy.

The fruit usually break up into 5 wedge-shaped ‘seeds’ (i.e. mericarps) that are topped with two sharp awns (about 1 mm long).

3. Flannel weed (Sida cordifolia)

The Flannel weed (Sida cordifolia) specie can be identified with the following characteristic features;

Flannel weed (Sida cordifolia) has broad or heart-shaped (i.e. cordate) leaves that are densely covered in small whitish coloured hairs (on both surfaces) that give them a felty texture.

These leaves usually have rounded tips (i.e. obtuse apices) or taper to a blunt point. Its flowers are borne in small, dense, clusters on short stalks (2-4 mm long) and their sepals (i.e. calyces) are densely hairy.

The fruit break up into 8-10 wedge-shaped ‘seeds’ (i.e. mericaprs) that are topped with two long slender awns (2.5-3.5 mm long).

4. Common sida (Sida rhombifolia)

The Common sida (Sida rhombifolia) specie can be identified with the following characteristic features;

Common sida (Sida rhombifolia) has oval (i.e. elliptic), lance-shaped (i.e. lanceolate) or somewhat diamond-shaped (i.e. rhomboid) leaves with a dense covering of hairs on their undersides and a sparse covering of hairs on their upper surfaces.

These leaves usually have rounded tips (i.e. obtuse apices). Its flowers are borne singly on long and thin stalks (10-40 mm long) and their sepals (i.e. calyces) are sparsely hairy. The fruit usually break up into 8-12 wedge-shaped ‘seeds’ (i.e. mericarps) that are topped with two awns (0.5-1 mm long).

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5. Spiked sida (Sida subspicata)

The Spiked sida (Sida subspicata) specie can be identified with the following characteristic features;

Spiked sida (Sida subspicata) has relatively narrow (i.e. lanceolate) to broad (i.e. ovate or oblong) leaves with a dense covering of hairs on both surfaces (but more so underneath).

These leaves have pointed or rounded tips (i.e. acute or obtuse apices). Its flowers are almost stalkless and borne in elongated clusters (i.e. spikes) with a few small leaves sometimes interspersed between them.

Their sepals (i.e. calyces) are finely hairy and the fruit break up into 4-6 wedge-shaped ‘seeds’ (i.e. mericarps) that have rounded tips.

6. Spiked malvastrum (Malvastrum americanum)

The Spiked malvastrum (Malvastrum americanum) specie can be identified with the following characteristic features;

Spiked malvastrum (Malvastrum americanum) has relatively narrow or broad (i.e. elliptic or ovate) leaves with a relatively dense covering of hairs on their lower surfaces and blunt or pointed tips (i.e. obtuse or acute apices).

Its flowers are borne in short, dense, clusters (i.e. spikes) that are subtended by leafy bracts and their sepals (i.e. calyces) are hairy. The fruit usually break up into 8-12 wedge-shaped ‘seeds’ (i.e. mericarps) that have rounded tips.

7. Prickly malvastrum (Malvastrum coromandelianum)

The Prickly malvastrum (Malvastrum coromandelianum) specie can be identified with the following characteristic features;

Prickly malvastrum (Malvastrum coromandelianum) has broad (i.e. elliptic or ovate) leaves with a corrugated appearance and only a sparse covering of hairs. These leaves have blunt or pointed tips (i.e. obtuse or acute apices).

Its flowers are borne singly on short stalks (2-5 mm long) and their sepals (i.e. calyces) are hairy. The fruit break up into 8-14 wedge-shaped ‘seeds’ (i.e. mericarps) that are topped with three sharp awns (0.5-1 mm long).

Preferred Scientific Name

  • Sida acuta Burman f.

Other Scientific Names

  • Malvastrum carpinifolium (L.f.) A Gray
  • Malvinda carpinifolia (L.f.) Medik.
  • Sida acuta subsp. carpinifolia (L. f.) Borss. Waalk.
  • Sida acuta var. carpinifolia (L. f.) K. Schum.
  • Sida acuta var. intermedia S. Y. Hu
  • Sida acuta var. madagascariensis Hochr.
  • Sida berlandieri Turcz.
  • Sida bodinieri L.f.
  • Sida carpinifolia L. f.
  • Sida carpinifolia f. acuta (Burm. f.) Millsp.
  • Sida carpinifolia f. spiraeifolia (Link) Millsp.
  • Sida carpinifolia var. acuta (Burm. f.) Kurz
  • Sida chanetii Gand.
  • Sida frutescens Cav.
  • Sida garckeana Pol.
  • Sida jamaicensis Vell.
  • Sida lancea Gand.
  • Sida lanceolata Roxb.
  • Sida orientalis DC.
  • Sida planicaulis Cav.
  • Sida scoparia Lour.
  • Sida spiraeifolia Link
  • Sida spiraeifolia Willd.
  • Sida stauntoniana DC.
  • Sida ulmifolia Mill.
  • Sida vogelii Hook. f.

Read Also: 7 Health Benefits of Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora)

International Common Names

  • English: broom grass; broomweeds; cheeseweed; clock plant; common fanpetals; common wireweed; morning mallow; prickly sida; southern sida; spiny-head sida; wire weed
  • Spanish: babosilla; escoba blanca; escobita; escobita dulce; malva colorada; malva de Castilla; malva de platanillo
  • French: herbe à balais; herbe à panniers; herbe dure; herbe panier; sida à feuilles aiguës
  • Chinese: huang hua ren

Local Common Names

  • Australia: spinyhead sida
  • Bahamas: wire-weed
  • Brazil: guaxuma; relógio-de-vaqueiro; relógio-vassoura; vassonrinha curraleira; vassourinha-preta
  • Cambodia: kantrang bay sar
  • Colombia: escoba; escobilla
  • Cuba: malva bruja; malva de caballo
  • Dominican Republic: malva té
  • Ecuador/Galapagos Islands: escoba negra; escobilla negra
  • El Salvador: escoba; escobilla cabezuda; escobilla negra
  • Fiji: deni vuaka; paddy’s lucerne
  • Germany: Samtmalve, Südliche
  • Haiti: balai cing heures; guimauve à petites fleurs; herbe connaît; petit lalo; ti-lalo
  • Honduras: huinar
  • Indonesia: galoenggang; sadagori
  • Lesser Antilles: balai; balai-onze-heures; balai-savane; balie; balye midi; balye onze; balye savann; soap bush; sweet broom
  • Malaysia: bunga telur belangkas; dukong anak; ketumbar hutan; lidah ular; pokok kelutut putih; sedeguri; seleguri; snake’s tongue; spring-headed sida
  • Mexico: bobosilla; chichibe; escobilla blanca
  • Philippines: basbasot; escuba; surusighid; walis walisan
  • Samoa: mautofu
  • South Africa: taaiman
  • Sri Lanka: gas belila; kesar belila; malai tanki; palampasi; visha peti
  • Taiwan: syi ye jin wu shih hwa
  • Thailand: mai kward; mai kwat; yaa khat bai yaao; yung kwat; yung pat
  • Tonga: te’ehoosi
  • Trinidad and Tobago: ballier savanne
  • USA: southern sida
  • Venezuela: escoba amarilla; escoba dura
  • Vietnam: bai nhon

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Agric4Profits

Benadine Nonye is an agricultural consultant and a writer with over 12 years of professional experience in the agriculture industry. - National Diploma in Agricultural Technology - Bachelor's Degree in Agricultural Science - Master's Degree in Science Education... Visit My Websites On: 1. Agric4Profits.com - Your Comprehensive Practical Agricultural Knowledge and Farmer’s Guide Website! 2. WealthinWastes.com - For Effective Environmental Management through Proper Waste Management and Recycling Practices! Join Me On: Twitter: @benadinenonye - Instagram: benadinenonye - LinkedIn: benadinenonye - YouTube: Agric4Profits TV and WealthInWastes TV - Pinterest: BenadineNonye4u - Facebook: BenadineNonye

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