Heartleaf fanpetals
StarSida cordata
Synonyms: Sida mathewsii, Sida humilis, Melochia cordata, Sida veronicifolia, Sida cordata var. nasirii, Sida unilocularis, Sida veronicifolia var. humilis, Sida reclinans, Lamarkia morifolia, Sida multicaulis, Sida morifolia, Sida retxii, Sida radicans
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
In Ayurveda, Sida cordata is one of several species used under the group name 'bala', valued as a strengthening Rasayana (rejuvenative) and nervine tonic that pacifies Vata; preparations of the root and whole plant are used for general debility and applied for inflammation, swelling and rheumatic pain (Khare, 2007). The plant contains ephedrine-type alkaloids, and species pharmacology supports anti-inflammatory and analgesic actions.
Gallery
Botanical Description
Sida cordata, the heartleaf fanpetals or bracted sida, is a slender, trailing or weakly ascending perennial herb of the mallow family widespread through tropical Asia, Africa and beyond, growing as a weed of fields, roadsides, hedgerows and waste ground. The fine, wiry stems are covered in soft stellate and longer simple hairs and root at the lower nodes. The alternate leaves are small, broadly ovate to cordate (heart-shaped) at the base, with toothed margins and a softly hairy surface, on slender petioles with thread-like stipules. The flowers are small and solitary or few in the leaf axils, with five pale yellow, slightly asymmetric (fan-shaped) petals and a central column of fused stamens typical of the family. The fruit is a disc-shaped schizocarp that splits into several one-seeded mericarps. It is one of the plants grouped in Ayurveda under the name 'bala'.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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