Spiny Sida, Prickly Sida

(Sida spinosa L.)

Malvaceae (Mallow Family)

▲ seedling

▲ ▼ young, mature plants

▲ flower and leaves

▲ plant with fruit

Spiny Sida, Prickly Sida:  (not in Weeds of the Great Plains;  pp. 262-263, Weeds of the Northeast)

·        Summer annual, often much branched, growing 1-3’ tall

·        Produces small  yellow flowers in leaf axils

·        Has two small thorns at base of each leaf or branch (node)

·        Is a competitive weed in cotton, soybeans and horticultural crops

·        Found in cultivated fields, gardens, pastures, non-crop areas

·        Other tropical Sida species are grown for fiber, medicinal properties