Sida rhombifolia L.
paddy lucerne
Bushy annual up to 1 m high, becoming very woody towards base and developing a long root. Stems moderately clothed in fine stellate hairs when young, becoming glabrous when older. Lvs densely clothed in stellate hairs below, moderately clothed in stellate hairs above, often becoming ± glabrous above when older, rhombic to oblong, obtuse at apex, not lobed, serrate except near base, 10-30-(60) mm long; petioles 1-5-(8) mm long; stipules linear, 3-5 mm long. Fls axillary and solitary, often appearing clustered among lvs in short axillary branches; fruiting pedicels 10-25-(30) mm long; calyx campanulate, clothed in very fine stellate hairs with 10 thickened nerves toward base; calyx teeth ovate-triangular, acuminate, < tube; petals pale yellow to orange, 3-8 mm long. Mericarps 8-12 per fr., glabrous, ± smooth on back, inner edges shortly awned, indehiscent.
N.: south to Bay of Plenty and Opotiki District; K.
Widespread tropical weed 1910
A well-established and persistent local weed of pasture, lawn, and coastal sands and gravels.
FL Jan-Jun.
The 10 thickened nerves at the base of the calyx distinguish this sp. from all other Malvaceae in N.Z. (Fig. 81).
