Sida retusa, common sida, Patty’s lucerne

Perennial sub-shrubs, stems usually woody-based and strongly fibrous above. Erect robust, usually 0.3-1.1m tall. Young stems with fine star hairs becoming glabrous. Bark green and very strong.

Weed Category:	Other invasive plants Invasive plants that are not prohibited or restricted invasive plants, but are known to spread readily and cause negative impacts, within the region.
Weed:	Yes
Form or habit:	Shrub
Family:	Malvaceae
Leaf:	Simple Alternate Alternate, simple. Irregularly rhomboidal to oblong, 15-80 x 5-40mm, upper surface dark green, paler below with short greyish star hairs; margins irregularly toothed towards the tip, more or less smooth towards the base; stipules threadlike.
Flower conspicuous:	Inconspicuous
Flower colour:	Yellow, Cream, Orange
Flower description:	Creamy to orange-yellow, 4-8mm long, mostly solitary on slender axillary stems 10-25mm long.
Fruit conspicuous:	Inconspicuous
Fruit colour:	Brown
Fruit:	Dry
Fruit description:	Dry round brownish and radially separating into 1-seeded, wedge-shaped segments. 5-6mm in diameter, separating into 9-12 segments, 2-2.5mm long, apex acute with 2 points around 0.5-1mm long. Calyx 5-lobed, persistent, 5-6 mm long, minutely hairy; 10 ribbed at the base, lobes tapering to a point.
Habitat:
Distribution
Food source for:
Toxicity:	No toxicity known
Origin:	Probably native of tropical America
Notes:	Spread by: segments spread by water, farm machinery, stock and in contaminated feed or seed. Bristly segments also adhere to clothing and animals. Invades/threats: pastures, open forests and disturbed areas along roadsides, headlands and stock camps. Notes: widespread throughout this region. Grows on all soil types but will not grow in areas with thick/long grass cover or in closed forests. Can flower and seed throughout the year in tropics. Environmental weed.
Information sources:	Mackay Regional Pest Management Group (2018) Weeds of the Mackay Whitsunday Region Second Edition.