Sida (genus)
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Sida_(genus)".

For the cladoceran (water flea) genus, see Sida (crustacean). "Sida" is also a Nigerian name for Gabon Nut (Coula edulis).

Sida
ʻIlima (Sida fallax)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Subclass: Rosidae (unranked) Eurosids II Order: Malvales Family: Malvaceae Genus: Sida L.
Species
Over 100, see text

Sida is a genus of of herbs or subshrubs in the Mallow family (Malvaceae). It contains 125 to 150 species, or even some 200 according to other authorities^{citation needed}. These plants are of worldwide distribution, mostly found in the tropics and subtropics, although some species extend into temperate regions.

The name Sida was adopted by Carolus Linnaeus from the writings of Theophrastus, who used it for Nymphaea alba.

Arrowleaf Sida (S. rhombifolia) supposedly has edible leaves. Country Mallow (S. cordifolia) contains ephedrine and is of some commercial importance for use in ayurvedic medicine. Members of this genus are occasionally planted to attract butterflies; Country Mallow and S. acuta are for example popular with the Crimson Rose (Atrophaneura hector).

Sida species are also used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera. These include Lemon Pansy (Junonia lemonias), Great Eggfly (Hypolimnas bolina) and Indian Grizzled Skipper (Spialia galba) which have all been found on Arrowleaf Sida, and Chionodes mariona.

The Sida golden mosaic virus and Sida golden yellow vein virus have been first isolated from Sida species; the former specifically from Sida santaremensis

Selected species

• Sida acuta – common wireweed
• Sida antillensis
• Sida cardiophylla (Benth.) F.Muell.
• Sida carpinifolia
• Sida ciliaris
• Sida cleisocalyx F.Muell.
• Sida clementii Domin
• Sida cordifolia – Country Mallow, bala, ‘ilima
• Sida cryphiopetala F.Muell.
• Sida echinocarpa F.Muell.
• Sida fallax – yellow ʻilima
• Sida intricata F.Muell.
• Sida kingii F.Muell.
• Sida hermaphrodita – Virginia Mallow
• Sida nesogena
• Sida phaeotricha F.Muell.
• Sida physocalyx F.Muell.
• Sida santaremensis
• Sida spenceriana F.Muell.
• Sida pusilla
• Sida rhombifolia – Arrow-leafed Sida, Jelly Leaf, Paddy's Lucerne, Cuban Jute, Queensland Hemp, "Indian Hemp"
• Sida trichopoda F.Muell.
• Sida troyana

Formerly placed here

• Indian Abutilon, Abutilon indicum (as Sida indica)

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Sida (genus)

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