Botanical art
Prior names
Sida corrugata var. trichopoda
Common names
Narrow-leaf Sida
High Sida
Etymology
Sida a Greek name used by Theophrastus for a water-lily, probably in reference to Nymphaea alba or for a pomegranate tree. Linnaeus transferred the name to Malvaceae changing its primary, pre-Linnaean application. Trichopoda from the Greek 'trichos' meaning hairy and 'podus' meaning foot, stem or stalk; referring to its long pedicels (stalk), which is densely hairy above a joint near the apex and glabrous below.
Distribution and status
Found in the north-eastern part of South Australia, growing on heavy soils in floodplains and stony plains. Also found in all mainland states. Native. Common in south Australia. Rare in Western Australia. Common in the other states.
Herbarium regions: North Western, Lake Eyre, Gairdner-Torrens, Flinders Ranges, Eastern, Eyre Peninsula, Murray
NRM regions: Alinytjara Wilurara, Eyre Peninsula, Northern and Yorke, South Australian Arid Lands, South Australian Murray-Darling Basin
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Sprawling to erect shrub to 50 cm high with glabrous or hairy stems. Leaves narrowly ovate or elliptic, to 30 mm long and 15 mm wide, rounded at base, margins toothed; both surfaces green and hairy or the lower glabrous. Inflorescence solitary with yellow flower on a hairy stalk longer than the leaves, to 60 mm. Flowering between September and November. Fruits are hairy, brown transversely elliptic fruit to , 6.5 mm diameter, with 7-8 segments. Seeds are dark brown wedge-shaped seed to 2 mm long and 1 mm wide, covered in scattered hairs. Seed embryo type is folded.
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between November and January. Collect mature fruits, those that are turning pale straw colour and contain dark hard seeds. Place the capsules in a tray and leave to dry for two weeks. Then rub the capsules gently with a rubber bung or by hand to dislodge the seeds. Use a sieve to separate the unwanted material. Store the seeds with a desiccant such as dried silica beads or dry rice, in an air tight container in a cool and dry place. From one collection, the seed viability is high, at 90%. This species has physical dormancy that needs to be overcome for the seed to germinate (e.g. nicking or softening the seed coat).
Location | No. of seeds (weight grams) | Number of plants | Date collected | Collection number Collection location | Date stored | % Viability | Storage temperature |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BGA MSB | 3,000 (17.61 g) 3,000 (17.61 g) | 25-Nov-2005 | DJD242 Eastern | 7-Aug-2006 | 90% | -18°C | |
MSB | 1,570 (7.55 g) | 26-Sep-2008 | DJD1131 Lake Eyre | 90% |