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
Safety at a glance
No rule in our tables for this herb: pregnancy, breastfeeding, incompatible pairs (十八反 / 十九畏), herb–drug, dose ceiling. This is not a safety clearance.
Not graded — No toxicity grade is recorded. Most herbs in the catalogue carry none.
Traditionally used for
- Bowel health
- Energy & fatigue
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.
Dosage Calculator
⚖ Dosage Calculator
A weight-based mathematical estimate for Yellow âilima. Not a prescription.
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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