Sida cordifolia L., Malvaceae

Click on an image for links to BIGGER PICTURES

Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Reject, score: 15 (Go to the risk assessment)

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: xin ye huang hua ren

English: country mallow, flannelweed, heart-leaf sida, heartleaf sida, sida

Hawaiian: lei ilima

Tuamotuan: miri taratoni, purumi

Habit:  shrub

Description:  "Erect subshrubs 0.5-1.5 m tall, whitish to yellowish stellate velutinous or stellate tomentose. Leaf blades ovate to oblong or sometimes orbicular, 2-10 (-12) cm long, margins serrate, base usually shallowly cordate, petioles usually 1/3 or more the length of blades, stipules filiform, 3-7 mm long. Flowers usually in axillary clusters, often forming dense panicles or corymbs of racemes by reduction of leaves; calyx 5-7 mm long, accrescent and clasping in fruit; petals cream to pale yellow or orangish yellow, 7-9 mm long; staminal column included. Schizocarp 6-7 mm in diameter, mericarps 8-12 (-14), brownish, the body 2.8-3.5 mm long, with 2 retrorsely simple pubescent apical awns 2-4 (-5) mm long, dorsal and lateral surfaces rugose-reticulate. Seeds 1.8-2.3 mm long, glabrous or with a few hairs along the raphe" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 897).

Habitat/ecology:  In Hawai‘i, "naturalized in dry sites" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 897). In New Guinea, "a weed of abandoned cultivation and pastures, also occurring naturally in savannah. From sea level to about 700 m, mainly in regions of limited seasonal rainfall" (Henty & Pritchard, 1975; p. 122).

Propagation:  Seed.  "The awned mericarps are spread by adhering to clothing and livestock, in mud on vehicles, and as contaminants in hay and seed crops" (Smith, 2002; pp. 40-41).

Native range:  Pantropical.

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Tinian Island		Wagner, W. L./ Herbst, D. R./Weitzman, A./Lorence, D.H. (2013)
French Polynesia French Polynesia Islands	French Polynesia Islands		Waterhouse, D. F. (1997) (p. 65)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J. (2004) (pp. 240-242)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence 4502 (PAP), J. Florence 11099 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Makatea (Ma‘atea) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J. (2004) (pp. 240-242)
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Makatea (Ma‘atea) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 3082 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Tubuai Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J. (2004) (pp. 240-242)
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Tubuai Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence & W.R. Sykes 11131 (PAP) Adventice
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Waterhouse, D. F. (1997) (p. 65)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 897)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy W./Wagner, Warren L. (1995) (p. 41) Voucher cited: T. Flynn et al. 4436 (BISH, PTBG, US)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Lāna‘i Island	introduced invasive	Oppenheimer, Hank (2007) (p. 26) Voucher cited: Oppenheimer H100630 (BISH, PTBG)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 897) East Maui
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Oppenheimer, Hank (2007) (p. 26) West Maui. Voucher cited: Oppenheimer, M. Chimera & F. Quitazol H100520 (BISH, PTBG)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive	Oppenheimer, Hank (2007) (p. 26) Vouchers cited: Oppenheimer H120619 (BISH, PTBG), Oppenheimer H120620 (BISH, PTBG)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Herbst, Derral R./Staples, George W./Imada, Clyde T. (2004) (p. 9) Voucher cited: W. Char, S. Ching-Hrabin & M. LeGrande s.n. (BISH 690736)
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands	introduced invasive	Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe (1996) (p. 382) Rudérale, nombreuses localités
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	Tassin, Jacques (2005)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 98) Vouchers cited: Franc 2268, Virot 1095, MacKee 4061, MacKee 16071, MacKee 33844, MacKee 29985
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	invasive	Henty, E. E./Pritchard, G. H. (1975) (p. 122) From sea level to about 700 m, mainly in regions of limited seasonal rainfall.
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)		Waterhouse, D. F. (1997) (p. 65)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands		Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (p. 34) In and about towns, a weed in open dry waste places.
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 96)
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Ha‘ano Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2001) (voucher ID: PTBG 233) Taxon name on voucher: Sida cordifolia
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Nomuka Island	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 181) Voucher cited: Yuncker 15803
Tonga Tonga Islands	Tonga Islands		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 96)
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Vanuatu (Republic of)		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 96)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	Northern Territory	introduced invasive	Smith, Nicholas M. (2002) (pp. 40-41)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	introduced invasive	Smith, Nicholas M. (2002) (pp. 40-41)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	El Salvador (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 335)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Honduras (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 335)
China China	China (People's Republic of)		Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Scrub on slopes, grassy roadsides. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Sichuan, Yunnan.
China China	Hong Kong	native	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 100)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)		Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
Japan Japan	Japan	introduced	Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro (2004) (p. 186)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	native	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 80) Common
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island		Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Scrub on slopes, grassy roadsides.
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 335)
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)		Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)

Comments:  A declared noxious weed in Western Australia and the Northern Territory (Smith, 2002; pp. 40-41).

Control:  If you know of control methods for Sida cordifolia, please let us know.