Sida alba

Common names: spiny sida, spring sida (Eng.); lente sida, stekeltaaiman (Afr.); sindanibita (Ven.)

Woody herb, stems branching from base, up to 0.75 m tall. Leaves are narrowly ovate or oblong. Flowers are solitary or in clusters in the leaf axils, white to pale yellow. In South Africa, it is present in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West, where it grows in open areas in disturbed and cultivated land. Extends northwards into tropical and north Africa.

Sida cordifolia

Common names: flannel weed, koek fruit, white burr (Eng.); hartblaartaaiman, inama, koekbessie, koekbessiebossie, koekbossie, verdompsterk (Afr).

Tall subshrub, up to 1 m tall, having broad or heart-shaped (cordate) leaves with round tips, rough in texture because of the dense, small white hairs on both leaf surfaces. Flowers in small, dense clusters, bright yellow and orange, and sepals densely hairy. In most of South Africa and extending into tropical Africa. Found in disturbed soils in dry patches.

Sida ovata

Common names: mapungubwe sida (Eng.); umdiza wethafa (Zul.)

Low-growing, woody herb, up to 0.5 m high; densely grey- or grey-green-tomentose stems; wiry when young. Leaves oval or oblong or lance-shaped, apex obtuse or rounded. Flowers solitary in leaf axils or sometimes 2 or 3 flowers, white or yellow. In South Africa, it is distributed in the Northern Cape, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and North West. This species prefers dry habitats. Also in Namibia and northwards into tropical Africa. 

Sida rhombifolia

Common names: arrowleaf sida, common sida, rhombus-leaved sida, queenslandhemp (Eng.); pretoria sida, pretoria bossie, smalblaartaaiman, taaiman (Afr.)

Tall subshrub, erect branches up to 1 m tall, having oval, lanceolate or diamond-(rhomboid)shaped, with round tips covered with hairs, more so on lower surface. Its flowers are solitary on thin, long pedicels, white or pale yellow. Their sepals are sparsely hairy. This is the most widespread species, occurring throughout South Africa and into tropical Africa and on other continents. It is weedy and common along road sides and disturbed areas. It is also the most variable species, with several varieties in S. rhombifolia and varieties riparia and rhombifolia occur in South Africa. Recently S. serratifolia from the Limpopo Province and Swaziland was reduced to a variety in S. rhombifolia.  

Sida ternata

Common name: three-leaved sida (Eng.)

Includes S. triloba, named for its tri-lobed leaves, a rare and diagnostic character among species of Sida. Small, woody herb; stems erect, soft up to 0.75 m. Flowers are white or pale yellow, borne on long pedicels (± 60 mm) on each leaf axil towards the apex and sometimes clustered on stem apices. The species is distributed in Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo. Grows in thicket margins and prefers partial shade.