Sida elliottii is a perennial native wildflower in the Malvaceae (Mallow Family). The name Sida has a Greek base and means 'pomegranate' or 'water lily'.
The plant genus Elliottii honors Stephen Elliott who was a Professor of Natural History and Botany. He authored one of the most important botanical books regarding American botany, A Sketch of the Botany of South-Carolina and Georgia. It was published in two volumes 1816 to 1824.
The buds of Sida elliottii are lovely. They occur in the leaf axils and are green with edges highlighted in red.
Sida elliottii flowers have both a unique color and shape. Their color falls between yellow and orange. It's soft, not bright- perhaps butterscotch, amber or saffron? The hue varies among flowers, some more orange, some pale yellow. Take a look at these photos and name the color for yourself! Each flower consists of 5 uniquely shaped, asymmetric petals.
The calyx is composed of 5 green sepals with reddish, sharply pointed edges. The sepals are partially fused with triangular, pubescent lobes having a pointed tip.
There are many stamens, surrounding a central ovary and a branched style. The stamens are showy and quite beautiful as they protrude from the flowers center.
The flowers don't open until the afternoon. So, you won't have any luck finding them in the morning! I searched my photos over many years and they were all taken between 3 and 6 pm. I can't seem to find information on what time the flowers close. Is it early morning or before dawn?
Elliot's sida is an open plant with a height between 2-3 feet. The stem is somewhat woody, branched and pubescent. lt often has a reddish to orange hue. Leaves are toothed, narrow and hairy underneath. They occur alternately on short petioles.
The fruits are schizocarps that break down into about 10 mericarps each containing one seed.
So far the only bees I've documented visiting the flowers of Sida elliottii are Agapostemon bees.
Sleepy orange butterflies and Fiery skippers also visit the flowers. They are seeking nectar and may pollinate the flowers.
In addition, to the bees and butterflies, I've documented Katydids visiting the flowers. Katydids feed on flower parts and while doing so, they get pollen grains stuck to their antennae and legs facilitating pollination when they move to the next flower.
On Ozarkedge, I've found Sida elliottii in both grassland and glade habitat.
CONSERVATION STATUS Apparently Secure
In Arkansas, Sida elliottii has a Conservation Value of 9 (out of 10) meaning "Conservative taxa with strong fidelity to intact habitats. These taxa tend to exhibit late-successional characteristics like long lifespans with low seed sets and an inability for far ranging dispersal."
Natureserve shows Sida elliottii as overall Apparently Secure, however it is in trouble in many states. Take a look below:
- S1: Critically Imperiled in Missouri, Virginia
- S2?: Imperiled in Georgia
- S2/S3: Imperiled/Vulnerable in Arkansas
- S3: Vulnerable in Alabama, Mississippi
- SH: Possibly extirpated in Louisiana
- SNR: No Status Rank in Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas
INTERESTING TIDBITS
I read that Sida elliottii is a host plant for the Gray Hairstreak, Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak, and the Tropical Checkered-skipper. Links below.
Miami Blue Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association https://tinyurl.com/5n8j867v
Broward Butterfly & Native Plant Chapters (https://tinyurl.com/yc8ercrx)