Bristly sida, tropical fanpetals Bristly sida, tropical fanpetals

Sida verticillata Cavanilles

Herbs or subshrubs, perennial, often scandent, 0.5–1.5 m. Stems erect or reclining, with simple 1.5–3 mm hairs mixed with shorter stellate hairs, rarely only stellate-hairy. Leaves: stipules free from petiole, 1-veined, subulate, 2–5 mm; petiole 10–30 mm, 1/4–1/2 (to nearly equaling) blade length, pubescence like stem; blade ovate to triangular, 4–9 cm, 1.5–2 times longer than wide, base cordate, margins crenate-serrate or coarsely serrate to base, apex acuminate or attenuate, surfaces sparsely pubescent, abaxial surface stellate-pubescent, adaxial surface stellate-pubescent or with simple, often antrorsely-oriented hairs. Inflorescences axillary, dense, subsessile, 3–8- glabrous or nearly so; mericarps 5, 3 × 1.5 mm, laterally faintly striate to smooth, apex muticous. 2n = 32.

Flowering year-round. Disturbed sites; 0–10 m; introduced; Fla.; Mexico; West Indies; Central America; South America; introduced also in Africa, Indian Ocean Islands (Madagascar), Pacific Islands (Hawaii).

Sida urens was found only recently (2008) in Broward County. The species is easily distinguished by its long-acuminate beaked flower buds, setose calyx, cordate-acuminate leaves, and tendency to have long, reclining stems. It is rather common in tropical regions.