Prickly Mallow

(Sida spinosa)

 

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

 

Prickly Mallow (Sida spinosa)

Alien: Native of tropical America.

Identification: Flowers yellow, small (0.25 inches in width), with 5 petals. Stamens fused into a central, bushy column. Flowers solitary on long flowering stalks from the leaf axils. Leaves elliptical, with a toothed outer margin and a long petiole. Leaves commonly with a spine at their bases. Plant 1 to 3 feet in height.

Distribution: Michigan in the west to Massachusetts in the east south to Florida and Texas. Also in tropical America.

Habitat: Prickly Mallow is found in a variety of disturbed habitats including empty lots, fields, and roadsides.

Flowering period: June to October.

Prickly Mallow (Sida spinosa)

Similar Species:

The small, mallowlike yellow flowers, toothed leaves, and the spine at the base of each leaf should readily identify this species.

Similar Species

No Similar Species