Sida rhombifolia L., Sp. PI . 684. 1753; emend. Masters in Fl. Brit. India 1: 323. 1874.

Annual or perennial herbs or undershrubs. Stems, petioles and pedicels covered with minute stellate hairs or rigid hairs, ultimately glabrescent. Leaves ovate to oblong, often more or less rhomboid, ovoid, or lanceolate, apically serrate to crenate, entire towards base, minutely stellate-pubescent or tomentose by more or less stiff simple hairs on both surfaces; stipules filiform. Flowers axillary, solitary or 2 - 5 in clusters. Calyx campanulate, free up to or above the middle, lobes triangular to ovate, acuminate. Corolla yellow to pale orange; petals oblique, usually emarginate at apex, cuneate at base, glabrous. Staminal column shorter than petals, hairy or glabrous. Ovary conical, minutely stellate-hairy; styles 9 - 12. Mericarps 6 - 12, with 2 short awns, dorsally and awns stellate-hairy or glabrous. Seeds ca 2 mm across, flattened glabrous, reniform, brown or black.

Fl. & Fr. July - Dec.

Distrib. India: Throughout from sea level to 1500 m.

Pantropical.

KEY TO THE SUBSPECIES

1a. Prostrate or ascending undershrubs; leaves obovate to orbicular; pedicels as long as petioles or slightly longer; corolla 2 - 2.5 cm across

9.1. retusa

b. Erect herbs or undershrubs; leaves ovate to oblong, rhomboid or lanceolate; pedicels much longer than petioles; corolla 1 - 1.8 cm across

9.2. rhombifolia

List of Lower Taxa