• Skip to main content

Central QLD Coast Landcare Network

  • Local Plants Database
  • Local Wildlife Database

SEARCH PLANT AND ANIMAL DATABASES

Sida retusa, common sida, Patty’s lucerne

Sida rhombifolia, Fam. Malvaceae


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.

Website by Kapow Interactive