Sida ciliaris

Herbs, probably perennial, 0.1–0.3 m. Stems procumbent, branched from base, with appressed, stellate, usually 4-rayed hairs. Leaves usually crowded at stem apex; stipules partially adnate to petiole, 1-veined, linear to oblanceolate, 4–12 mm, usually longer than petiole; petiole 2–10 mm, 1/4–1/2 length of blade, with appressed stellate hairs; blade narrowly elliptic, 1–2 cm, usually 2–3 times longer than wide, base truncate to subcordate, margins dentate apically, entire basally, apex acute or obtuse, surfaces stellate-hairy abaxially, glabrous adaxially. Inflorescences terminal, subsessile, usually 1–10-flowered, flowers crowded at branch apices because of shortening of internodes, obscurely solitary, axillary. Pedicels adnate to petiole of leaflike bract, 0.1–0.4 cm, shorter than calyx. Flowers: calyx obscurely angulate, 4–6 mm, hirsute, lobes ovate; petals usually salmon-pink, red-orange, sometimes yellowish, 5–11 mm; staminal column hairy; style 5–8-branched. Schizocarps conic, 5–6 mm diam., subglabrous; mericarps 5–8, prominently muricate, otherwise glabrous. 2n = 16.

Phenology: Flowering year-round.
Habitat: Roadsides, pastures, disturbed habitats, usually in open areas
Elevation: 0–100 m

Fla., Tex., Mexico, West Indies, South America.

Discussion

Sida ciliaris is found in Broward and Miami-Dade counties and the Florida Keys and in central and southern Texas. The stems can be procumbent but not distinctly mat-forming, and they are often ascending, not flexible, and tufted. The flowers are sometimes described as being salmon-colored; that feature, the congested terminal leaves and flowers, and the adnate stipules are quite distinctive.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa