275 Species in Genus Sida

My Exploration of the Sida Genus

As a botanist, I’ve always been fascinated by the diversity and resilience of plant life. One genus that has particularly captured my attention is Sida, a group of flowering plants belonging to the mallow family, Malvaceae. These plants, often referred to as fanpetals or sidas, are found in tropical and subtropical regions across the globe, with a particular abundance in the Americas.

My interest in Sida stems from their remarkable adaptability and the sheer variety of species within the genus. From the creeping Sida abutifolia found in coastal regions to the towering Sida calyxhymenia that thrives in rocky terrains, each species has unique characteristics that allow it to flourish in its specific environment.

Diversity within the Sida Genus

The Sida genus boasts over 200 recognized species, each with its own distinct features and ecological niche:

  1. Sida abadiana Krapov.
  2. Sida abutilifolia Mill.
  3. Sida acuta Burm.f. Plant FAQs: Sida Acuta
  4. Sida adrianopolitana Krapov.
  5. Sida adscendens A.St.-Hil.
  6. Sida aggregata C.Presl
  7. Sida alamosana S.Watson ex Rose
  8. Sida alba L.
  9. Sida albiflora (Chodat & Hassl.) Krapov.
  10. Sida albinervia Krapov.
  11. Sida alii Abedin
  12. Sida ambatensis Krapov.
  13. Sida ammophila F.Muell. ex J.H.Willis
  14. Sida andersonii Fryxell
  15. Sida angustifolia Mill.
  16. Sida angustissima A.St.-Hil.
  17. Sida anodifolia Fryxell
  18. Sida anomala A.St.-Hil.
  19. Sida antillensis Urb.
  20. Sida aprica Domin
  21. Sida arboae Krapov.
  22. Sida arcuata Krapov.
  23. Sida arenicola S.T.Reynolds & A.E.Holland
  24. Sida argentea F.M.Bailey
  25. Sida argentina K.Schum.
  26. Sida argillacea A.E.Holland & S.T.Reynolds
  27. Sida arsiniata R.M.Barker
  28. Sida asterocalyx S.T.Reynolds & A.E.Holland
  29. Sida atherophora Domin
  30. Sida aurantiaca A.St.-Hil.
  31. Sida austrotaiwaniana S.S.Ying
  32. Sida bakeriana Rusby
  33. Sida barclayi Baker f.
  34. Sida beckii Krapov.
  35. Sida bipartita Schltr.
  36. Sida blepharoprion Ulbr.
  37. Sida boliviana Gand.
  38. Sida bordasiana Krapov.
  39. Sida bortolanensis Krapov.
  40. Sida brachypoda A.E.Holland & S.T.Reynolds
  41. Sida brachystemon DC.
  42. Sida brittonii León
  43. Sida brownii Clement
  44. Sida cabraliana Krapov.
  45. Sida cabreriana Krapov.
  46. Sida calchaquiensis Rodrigo
  47. Sida calliantha Thulin
  48. Sida calva Fryxell
  49. Sida calyxhymenia J.Gay ex DC.
  50. Sida cambuiensis Monteiro
  51. Sida carandana Krapov.
  52. Sida cardiophylla F.Muell.
  53. Sida carrascoana Bovini
  54. Sida castanocarpa Krapov.
  55. Sida caudata A.St.-Hil. & Naudin
  56. Sida cavernicola Krapov.
  57. Sida centuriata Clement
  58. Sida cerradoensis Krapov.
  59. Sida chapadensis K.Schum.
  60. Sida charpinii Krapov.
  61. Sida chinensis Retz.
  62. Sida chiquitana Krapov.
  63. Sida chrysantha Ulbr.
  64. Sida ciliaris L.
  65. Sida cleisocalyx F.Muell.
  66. Sida clementii Domin
  67. Sida confusa Hassl.
  68. Sida coradinii Krapov.
  69. Sida cordata (Burm.f.) Borss.Waalk.
  70. Sida cordifolia L.
  71. Sida cordifolioides K.M.Feng
  72. Sida corrugata Lindl.
  73. Sida coutinhoi Paiva & Noguiera
  74. Sida cristobaliana Krapov.
  75. Sida cruziana Krapov.
  76. Sida cuneifolia Roxb.
  77. Sida cuspidata (A.Robyns) Krapov.
  78. Sida decandra R.E.Fr.
  79. Sida dubia A.St.-Hil. & Naudin
  80. Sida dureana Krapov.
  81. Sida echinocarpa F.Muell.
  82. Sida ectogama W.R.Barker & R.M.Barker
  83. Sida elliottii Torr. & A.Gray
  84. Sida elongata Blume
  85. Sida emilei Hochr.
  86. Sida esperanzae R.E.Fr.
  87. Sida everistiana S.T.Reynolds & A.E.Holland
  88. Sida fallax Walp.
  89. Sida farroupilhensis Krapov. & O.L.Bueno
  90. Sida fastuosa Fryxell & S.D.Koch
  91. Sida ferrucciana Krapov.
  92. Sida fibulifera Lindl.
  93. Sida floccosa Thulin & Vollesen
  94. Sida galheirensis Ulbr.
  95. Sida gertiana Krapov.
  96. Sida glabra Mill.
  97. Sida glaziovii K.Schum.
  98. Sida glocimarii Krapov.
  99. Sida glomerata Cav.
  100. Sida glutinosa Comm. ex Cav.
  101. Sida goniocarpa (F.Muell. ex Benth.) Domin
  102. Sida goyazensis K.Schum.
  103. Sida gracilipes Rusby
  104. Sida gracillima Hassl.
  105. Sida graniticola J.R.I.Wood
  106. Sida grazielae Monteiro
  107. Sida hackettiana W.Fitzg.
  108. Sida haenkeana C.Presl
  109. Sida harleyi Krapov.
  110. Sida hassleri Hochr.
  111. Sida hatschbachii Krapov.
  112. Sida hederifolia Cav.
  113. Sida hemitropousa Pandeya
  114. Sida heringeri Krapov.
  115. Sida hibisciformis Bertol.
  116. Sida hirsutissima Mill.
  117. Sida hoepfneri Gürke
  118. Sida honoriana Krapov.
  119. Sida hookeriana Miq.
  120. Sida hyalina Fryxell
  121. Sida hyssopifolia C.Presl
  122. Sida ignaciana Krapov.
  123. Sida intricata F.Muell.
  124. Sida itaparicana Krapov.
  125. Sida jamaicensis L.
  126. Sida japiana Krapov.
  127. Sida jatrophoides L’Hér.
  128. Sida javensis Cav.
  129. Sida jussiaeana DC.
  130. Sida kelleri Krapov.
  131. Sida keralensis E.S.S.Kumar, Shailaj., A.K.Sreekala, B.Parthipan & Prakashk.
  132. Sida kingii F.Muell.
  133. Sida kranzii Krapov. & O.L.Bueno
  134. Sida laciniata Bovini
  135. Sida lancifolia Burtt Davy
  136. Sida leitaofilhoi Krapov.
  137. Sida libenii Hauman
  138. Sida lilianae Krapov.
  139. Sida limensis R.E.Fr.
  140. Sida lindheimeri Engelm. & A.Gray
  141. Sida linearifolia A.St.-Hil.
  142. Sida linearis Cav.
  143. Sida linifolia Juss. ex Cav.
  144. Sida littoralis Siedo
  145. Sida lonchitis A.St.-Hil. & Naudin
  146. Sida longipedicellata Thulin
  147. Sida longipes A.Gray
  148. Sida loretana Krapov.
  149. Sida luschnathiana Steud.
  150. Sida macaibae Monteiro
  151. Sida macropetala Monteiro
  152. Sida magnifica Domin
  153. Sida magnifolia Krapov.
  154. Sida marabaensis Monteiro
  155. Sida martiana A.St.-Hil.
  156. Sida massaica Vollesen
  157. Sida meloana Krapov.
  158. Sida meridiana Fryxell
  159. Sida michoacana Fryxell
  160. Sida monteiroi Krapov.
  161. Sida monticola Fryxell
  162. Sida mysorensis Wight & Arn.
  163. Sida nemorensis Mart. ex Colla
  164. Sida neomexicana A.Gray
  165. Sida nesogena I.M.Johnst.
  166. Sida nordestinensis S.S.Figueiredo & J.I.M.Melo
  167. Sida nummularia Baker f.
  168. Sida oblonga Bovini
  169. Sida ogadensis Thulin & Vollesen
  170. Sida oligandra K.Schum.
  171. Sida orientalis Cav.
  172. Sida ovalis Kostel.
  173. Sida ovata Forssk.
  174. Sida palmata Cav.
  175. Sida palustris Krapov.
  176. Sida paradoxa Rodrigo
  177. Sida parva Krapov.
  178. Sida paucifolia DC.
  179. Sida pedersenii Krapov.
  180. Sida pedunculata (A.Cunn. ex J.M.Black) J.M.Black
  181. Sida pernambucensis Baracho & J.L.Brandão
  182. Sida petrophila F.Muell.
  183. Sida petropolitana Monteiro
  184. Sida phaeotricha F.Muell.
  185. Sida picklesiana A.S.Markey, S.J.Dillon & R.M.Barker
  186. Sida pindapoyensis Krapov.
  187. Sida piraporana Krapov.
  188. Sida pires-blackii Monteiro
  189. Sida planicaulis Cav.
  190. Sida platycalyx F.Muell. ex Benth.
  191. Sida pleiantha F.Muell. ex Benth.
  192. Sida poeppigiana (K.Schum.) Fryxell
  193. Sida potentilloides A.St.-Hil.
  194. Sida potosina Brandegee
  195. Sida pradeepiana Tambde & Sardesai
  196. Sida pritzeliana Domin
  197. Sida prolifica Fryxell & S.D.Koch
  198. Sida pseudocordifolia Hochr.
  199. Sida pseudocymbalaria Hassl.
  200. Sida pseudopotentilloides Monteiro
  201. Sida pueblensis Fryxell
  202. Sida pusilla Cav.
  203. Sida quettensis I.Riedl
  204. Sida quinquevalvacea J.L.Liu
  205. Sida ramoniana Krapov.
  206. Sida ravii Sivad. & Anil Kumar
  207. Sida regnellii R.E.Fr.
  208. Sida reitzii Krapov.
  209. Sida repens Dombey ex Cav.
  210. Sida rhizomatosa Krapov.
  211. Sida rhombifolia L. Plant FAQs: Sida Rhombifolia
  212. Sida riedelii K.Schum.
  213. Sida rigida (G.Don) D.Dietr.
  214. Sida rivulicola Ulbr.
  215. Sida rodrigoi Monteiro
  216. Sida rohlenae Domin
  217. Sida rubifolia A.St.-Hil.
  218. Sida rubromarginata Nash
  219. Sida rufescens A.St.-Hil.
  220. Sida ruizii Ulbr.
  221. Sida rupicola Hassl.
  222. Sida rzedowskii Fryxell
  223. Sida salviifolia C.Presl
  224. Sida samoensis Rech.
  225. Sida sampaiana Monteiro
  226. Sida sangana Ulbr.
  227. Sida santaremensis Monteiro
  228. Sida santosii Krapov.
  229. Sida saraviae Krapov.
  230. Sida schimperiana Hochst. ex A.Rich.
  231. Sida schininii Krapov.
  232. Sida schumanniana Krapov.
  233. Sida serrata Willd. ex Spreng.
  234. Sida setosa Mart. ex Colla
  235. Sida shinyangensis Vollesen
  236. Sida silvaniana Krapov.
  237. Sida simpsonii Krapov.
  238. Sida sivarajanii Tambde, Sardesai & A.K.Pandey
  239. Sida spenceriana F.Muell.
  240. Sida spinosa L.
  241. Sida spodochroma F.Muell.
  242. Sida subcordata Span.
  243. Sida subcuneata A.St.-Hil.
  244. Sida sucupirana Krapov.
  245. Sida surumuensis Ulbr.
  246. Sida szechuensis Matsuda
  247. Sida tanaensis Vollesen
  248. Sida tapiraguensis Krapov.
  249. Sida tenuicarpa Vollesen
  250. Sida teresinensis Krapov.
  251. Sida ternata L.f.
  252. Sida teysmannii Baker f.
  253. Sida tiagii Bhandari
  254. Sida tobatiensis Ulbr.
  255. Sida tragiifolia A.Gray
  256. Sida tressensiae Krapov.
  257. Sida trichopoda F.Muell.
  258. Sida tuberculata R.E.Fr.
  259. Sida turneroides Standl.
  260. Sida uchoae Monteiro
  261. Sida ulei Ulbr.
  262. Sida ulmifolia Mill.
  263. Sida urens L.
  264. Sida vagans Krapov.
  265. Sida vallsii Krapov.
  266. Sida variegata (Griseb.) Krapov.
  267. Sida vespertina Ekman
  268. Sida viarum A.St.-Hil.
  269. Sida waltoniana Krapov.
  270. Sida weberbaueri Ulbr.
  271. Sida wingfieldii (Fryxell) Dorr
  272. Sida xanti A.Gray
  273. Sida yungasensis Krapov.
  274. Sida yunnanensis S.Y.Hu
  275. Sida zahlbruckneri Rech.

Significance and Uses

Beyond their botanical interest, Sida plants have also been recognized for their various uses in traditional medicine and industry. Some species, such as Sida cordifolia, have been used in Ayurvedic medicine for their purported anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Others, like Sida rhombifolia, are known for their strong fibers, which have been traditionally used for making ropes and cordage.

Challenges in Sida Taxonomy

Despite their widespread distribution and ecological importance, the taxonomy of Sida remains a complex and evolving field. The sheer number of species, coupled with their morphological variability, has made it challenging to accurately classify and identify them. Recent molecular studies have shed new light on the phylogenetic relationships within the genus, leading to revisions in its taxonomy and a better understanding of its evolutionary history.

My Ongoing Research

My current research focuses on the genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships of Sida species in Southeast Asia. This region is home to a rich diversity of Sida plants, many of which are endemic to the region. By employing molecular techniques and morphological analyses, I aim to unravel the evolutionary history of these fascinating plants and contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the Sida genus.

I believe that continued research on Sida is crucial not only for advancing our knowledge of plant diversity but also for exploring their potential applications in medicine, agriculture, and industry. As I delve deeper into the world of Sida, I am constantly amazed by their resilience, adaptability, and the intricate relationships they have with their environment. I am excited to continue my exploration of this fascinating genus and contribute to our understanding of the plant kingdom.

Scroll to Top