Malvaceae

Sida cordifolia

Common Names: Flannel weed

Plant Form: Erect perennial herb or subshrub. Size: Up to 1 m tall. Stem: Covered with dense whitish, felty hairs. Leaves: Alternate, undivided, broadly to narrowly heart-shaped, with toothed margins, densely covered with whitish, felty hairs. Flowers: Clustered, yellow to pale orange, with five petals. Stamens numerous, fused at the base. Fruit and Seeds: Dry, dark brown, breaking apart into 8-10 one-seeded, wedge-shaped pieces with two curved barbs. Habitat: Open woodlands, pastures, grasslands, crops, gardens. Distinguishing Features: Differs from Spiny-head sida (Sida acuta) and Common sida (S. rhombifolia) in the heart-shaped leaves with dense white hairs. Impacts: Outcompetes with and replaces native vegetation.