sida, arrowleaf
COMMON NAME: | Sida, arrowleaf | |
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SCIENTIFIC NAME: | Sida rhombifolia | |
FAMILY: | Malvaceae | |
LIFECYCLE: | Annual, perennial with milder winters | |
FEATURES: | Leaves simple, alternate; leaves dentate on upper 2/3 and smooth on lower 1/3. Simple white to yellow flowers with 5 petals (typical Malvaceous type flowers, except smaller). Can easily be mistake with prickly sida and spurred anoda. |
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DESCRIPTION: | Summer annual or perennial weed in crops, landscape, and tall mowed turfgrass areas. In coastal plains of Alabama it can function as a perennial with a very strong rootstock that cannot be easily pulled from the ground. Two characteristics distinguish arrowleaf and prickly sida: First, the length of the peduncle (flower stalk) to petiole (leaf stalk). Arrowleaf has a longer peduncle and short petiole. Prickly has a short peduncle and long petiole. Second, leaf edges. Arrowleaf has lobed teeth on the upper half of the leaf, while prickly has lobed teethed throughout the leaf margins. |