Yellow âilima
StarSida fallax
Synonyms: Sida ulmifolia, Sida rotundifolia, Sida sertum, Anoda ovata, Sida nelsonii, Sida fallax var. kauaiensis, Sida meyeniana, Sida ledyardii, Sida diellii, Sida sandwicensis
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
In traditional Native Hawaiian medicine, the flowers of 'ilima (Sida fallax) were valued as a gentle remedy: the juice of the blossoms was among the first medicines given to infants as a mild laxative, an effect said not to extend to adults. The flowers were also taken as a general tonic, and when a person felt weak the bark of the roots was pounded together with other plants, strained, and drunk as a strengthening tonic (Akana, 1922; Native Plants Hawai'i).
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Botanical Description
Sida fallax, known in Hawaiian as 'ilima and in English as yellow 'ilima, is a variable shrub or sprawling subshrub in the family Malvaceae, widespread on Pacific islands including the Hawaiian archipelago, where forms range from low, ground-hugging coastal plants (ʻilima papa) to erect shrubs over a metre tall. The stems and leaves bear fine star-shaped hairs, giving a greyish, velvety feel. The alternate leaves are ovate to oblong or heart-shaped with toothed margins and a rounded to slightly lobed base. The flowers are showy, 2 to 3 centimetres across, with five overlapping petals in shades of yellow to orange or reddish, opening for only about a day; the delicate blossoms are famously strung into lei. The fruit is a flattened, disc-shaped schizocarp that splits into several one-seeded segments. 'Ilima is among the few non-food plants cultivated by ancient Hawaiians.
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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