Most Popular Sida

• Sida spinosa is best known as "Indian mallow," a tropical weed found in the southern United States. It is part of a large genus of tropical subshrubs or herbsin the mallow family. This Sida primarily has pale yellow or orange flowers.
  
  In addition, Sida hermaphrodita or Virginia mallow is a tall and lovely perennial herb common to the southeastern United States. It has leaves shaped like maple leaves and white flowers.
  
  

Scientific Notes

• The genus Sida is in the Mallow family, or Malvaceae family. Sida is a genus made up of flowering herbs and subshrubs. It contains 125 to 150 species. The Sida genus is large as well , including:
  
  Sida fallax, ilima
  Sida spinosa
  Sida rhombifolia
  Sida cordifolia
  Sida herbacea
  Sida althaeitolia
  Sida rotundifolia
  
  

A Holistic Approach

• Sida herbs are used for a variety of healing and medicinal applications. Holistically, it is used for everything from an analgesic to a diuretic to a stimulant to astringents--with different parts of the plant having different properties for healing. Sida also contains ephedrine, an ingredient found in ephedra. While the herb itself is believed to be safe, studies show ephedra to be dangerous and deadly.
  
  

A Bit Nutty

• The nut known as the Gabon nut or African walnut is also known locally in Nigeria as the Sida nut.
  
  

SIDA of Another Kind

• SIDA also stands for the acronym for AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) in the French language.