Species Diversity of Genus Sida L. in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh

Species Diversity of Genus Sida L. in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh

By Dr. Kaushal Tripathi, Dr. Moni Mishra and Mr. Prabhat Kumar

The distribution and number of species have an impact on the diversity of plants at any given site, and species richness is controlled by a range of biotic and abiotic parameters. The Biodiversity of Madhya Pradesh has great biological diversity, due to various ecosystems, including plateaus, ravines, ridges, valleys and flat plains located on
the genetic highway that connects two biodiversity hotspots in India, i.e. the Western Ghats and the North-East regions of India. The Biodiversity of Madhya Pradesh includes the diversity of ecosystems, including plateaus, ravines, ridges, valleys and flat plains. Floral diversity of Madhya Pradesh has one of the richest sources of species diversity and it contains more than 5000 plant species. Among angiosperm plant families, Malvaceae Juss. (s.l.) is one of the important plant families, distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of the world and is commonly known as ‘Mallow family’ and has a good contribution in the flora of Madhya Pradesh.

The Genus Sida is a very important and economic weed plant in this state and has great potential to increase income of the forest dwellers, due to its medicinal, economical and ornamental values, the members of this family are of great inter est to botanists, horticulturists, farmers etc. Researchers and professional farmers in tropical India are often faced with the problem of identifying certain weeds. Complete samples, including flowers and fruits, are required to be able to accurately identify standard, but usually omplex,
weed flora. An identification key, based on leaf traits, is proposed for Sida L. species (Malvaceae family) commonly found in Jabalpur (a city in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh). Species can thus be readily identified from the first stages of development before flowering.

Sida cordata (Burm. f.) Borss. Waalk – Sida cordata is characterized by its creeping habit, with a thin stem, and roots generally emerging from the nodes with moderate pubescent leaves and stems. The leaf lamina is broadly cordate at the base and acuminate at the apex, with double-dentated margin. The lamina and petiole are about equal in length. The
cream-yellow flowers occur single or in pairs. This species is commonly found in dense populations or in road side and near agricultural fields.

Occurrence - Common in Jabalpur, M.P.

Sida cordifolia L- Sida cordifolia is characterized by its upright habit and can be distinguished by its very dense pubescence on the stems, petioles and leaves. Sida cordifolia has a slightly notched lamina that is broadly rounded at the base, not clearly cordate and due to the densely felted stellate hairs, the lamina has a velvety appearance and texture. Lamina of this species has a velvety texture as well as appearance because of the densely felted stellate hairs and is broadly rounded at the base, partially notched, and not conspicuously cordate. This coat is thicker on the under surface and darker on the upper surface. The petiole is long and thickened at the apex. The flowers arise
single, or in groups of 2-4, from the leaf axils. They have a light-yellow corolla. This plant is common in sandy soils generally found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Occurrence – Frequent near water source in Jabalpur, M.P. and flourishes in wet soils. Sida acuta Burm. f. – Sida acuta is a herbaceous upright species (many branches arising from the base) that grows up to one metre high. This species is characterized by slightly asymmetrical oval lanceolate lamina and dentate margin from the lamina base, i.e. the main criterion for differentiating this species from S. rhombifolia. It is only slightly pubescent. The lamina’s upper surface has simple hairs, and its lower surface has tiny stellate hairs, compared to the lamina, the petiole is substantially shorter and thicker at both ends. The petiole has two linear stipule outgrowths, one longer and more leaf like than the other. It has pale yellow flowers growing at the apex of an axillary peduncle. It is one of the most common species of Jabalpur and found almost
everywhere along roadsides with dense populations. HOLM et al., (1977) opined that this species is highly competitive and considered to be one of the world’s troublesome weeds.

Occurrence - Common in Jabalpur, M.P.

Sida rhombifolia L.- S. rhombifolia is a herbaceous upright species sometimes has a trailing habit, and it can grow along the ground. It has a rhomboidal shape lamina, which is the distinguished feature to differentiate it from S. acuta. In addition, only the lower 2/3 of the lamina margin is dentate, thus emphasizing its rhomboid shape. The upper surface of the lamina is glabrous (or bears a few very scattered hairs), while the under surface is coated with short stellate hairs. A pair of filiform stipules arise from the base of the short petiole. There are generally single pale yellow to ochre flowers that grow from the leaf axils. It produces a finer and more brilliant textile fibre than jute
(Corchorus L. genus). However, as the stems grow only half as high as those of jute plants S. Rhombifolia is quite common in most tropical and subtropical regions in the world. Occurrence- Common in Jabalpur, M.P. and seems to prefer wet soils.

Uses

Ethnopharmacological uses – Some plants of the genus Sida L. namely, S. acuta Burm. f., S. cordifolia L., S. rhombifolia L., S. alnifolia var. alnifoli etc., have abundant ethnobotanical usage for centuries in many Asian, African and American countries. A lot of authentic pharmacological research reports show that various parts of Sida acuta, S. cordifolia, S. rhombifolia L. and S. cordata have multifarious uses in medical treatment of conditions such as neurological disorders, headache, leucorrhoea, tuberculosis, diabetes, malarial and other fevers, uterine disorders, rheumatic problem, renal inflammation, asthma, ulcers, childbirth and worms. S. rhombifolia L. has been used for the
treatment of gonorrhoea, piles, gout and rheumatism and also as nutritive tonic.
Fiber-Stem fibres of Sida species viz. SAFs (Sida acuta fibers) and SRFs (Sida rhombifolia fibers) are very important fibers in the textile industry. Tests such as tensile,
chemical, thermo gravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were conducted on SAFs and it was found that SAFs possess high cellulose content (72.99 wt.%), high tensile strength (627 ± 14 MPa), high crystallinity index (67.70%), and high thermal stability (up to 240°C).

Bala (Sida sp.) in Vedas Kala Granthas

In Vedic literature (Atharva Veda, Sama Veda and Kalpa Sutra), a wide description of Bala is well documented. It has been found to be mentioned in Amarkosha of Vanoushadhi Varga. In Paippalada Samhita, Bala is cited as Rasayana, Vishaghna, Balya and Pramehaghna. In Atharva Parishishta, Bala is used as Pushpaabhisheka. all four species of Sida genus, which is reported in Jabalpur, may be very helpful to quickly identify them in the fields. Tribal communities and local peoples of Madhya Pradesh use these plants as
ethano-medicine and for daily use practices. This weed plant has much potential in the upliftment of the economy of the local people by using high quality fibres. We are looking forward to livelihood support by using these plants as raw material for industrial utilization.