Spiny sida
Sida spinosa

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A herb or small shrub. It keeps growing from year to year. The stems are branched and have a few hairs. The leaves are 2-9 cm long by 6-18 mm wide. They are hairy. The flowers open on sunny days. The fruit are 5 mm across.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,500 m above sea level. It can grow on acid and poor soils.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andes, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Guiana, Guyana, Korea, Marquesas, Mexico, Myanmar, North America, Pacific, Paraguay, SE Asia, South America (country/location of origin), Uruguay, West Indies

How it is used for food

The leaves and flowers are edible and also used for tea.

Edible parts

Leaves, flowers, tea

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Guanxuma, Guaxuma, Katsi-ne, Malvinha, Nagbala, Thabyetsi-bin, Zunzo

Synonyms

Malva spinosa (L.) E. H. L. Krause; Sida alba L. and several others