Sida fallax

Sida fallax is an extremely variable plant. Individual plants of this species vary in height, leaf size and shape, degree of hairiness, flower color and size. Sida fallax ranges in habit from a prostrate to an erect shrub. The prostrate forms, called "`ilima papa", are most often 15 to 30 cm tall and grow in coastal areas. As a shrub, Sida fallax is usually less than 1.5 m tall, but can sometimes grow up to 3 meters in height. The leaves are alternately arranged along the stem, and their shape varies from somewhat elongated to almost round, 1 to 12 cm long, with serrate (saw-like) edges. The upper leaf surfaces are bright green while the lower surfaces are generally covered with dense hairs giving them a light velvety appearance. The most frequently encountered wild form has small yellow to orangish-yellow flowers that are either solitary or in clusters at the ends of the branches. The tubular flowers have 5 petals that are about 2.5 cm in diameter. The stamens (male reproductive structures) form a column that surrounds the stigma and style (female reproductive structures) in similar fashion to the hibiscus flower to which `ilima is related. The flowers bloom year-round and produce capsules that contain several small brown to black, angular seeds. The seeds of `ilima readily germinate and develop into short-lived perennial shrubs.
(Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst, and S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai`i)

In traditional Hawaiian medicine, `ilima flowers were used with other plants to assist women during pregnancy. A mixture of the flowers and root bark is also reported as a treatment for asthma.
(Akana, Akaiko. 1922. Hawaiian Herbs of Medicinal Value)
(Krauss, Beatrice H. 1979. Native Plants Used As Medicine in Hawaii)

`Ilima is highly esteemed by the Hawaiian culture for its delicate blossoms used to make garlands (lei). It was one of the few non-food plants cultivated by ancient Hawaiians and they have sevaral named varieties. The most preferred variety for making garlands is "Royal 'ilima" or "ilima lei", which has large orange-yellow flowers. In old Hawai'i, as in many other countries, yellow and gold were, and still are, special colors. `Ilima leis were given to departing friends, as this reputedly brought good luck. Each lei requires about 500 flowers and a great deal of patience to make.
(Kepler, A. K. 1984. Hawaiian Heritage Plants)

Sida fallax is naturally distributed from tropical China to Eastern Polynesia. In Hawai'i, Sida fallax grows on rocky or sandy coasts, on raised limestone reefs, lava fields, and dry to moist forests up to 1,980 meters elevation. It occurs on all the main islands and also on Midway Atoll and Nihoa islands. Various forms of Sida fallax tend to occur in specific habitats in the Hawaiian islands. The prostrate forms occur on arid exposed coastal locations whereas the shrubbier forms are generally found in moist woodland habitats.
(Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst, and S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai`i)

‘Ilima once held the title as the Hawaiian Kingdom's national flower before it was replaced by its larger red-colored cousin, Kokio ’Ula. Royal ‘ilima now holds a lesser distinction as the flower of Oahu.
(Kepler, A. K. 1984. Hawaiian Heritage Plants)

We currently have 136 herbarium specimens for Sida fallax in our collection. Click on any specimen below to view the herbarium sheet data.

014067 - collected by Shaw (J. F. Rock) in Unknown
009008 - collected by C. N. Forbes in 1912
036488 - collected by Harold St. John in 1930
066689 - collected by Otto Degener in 1950
036490 - collected by Harold St. John in 1951
008990 - collected by Harold St. John in 1951
036582 - collected by Harold St. John in 1951
066687 - collected by Otto Degener in 1952
031837 - collected by F. R. Fosberg in 1952
066688 - collected by Otto Degener in 1952
009013 - collected by Harold St. John in 1952
009526 - collected by E. Y. Hosaka in 1952
009011 - collected by E. Y. Hosaka in 1952
009015 - collected by Harold St. John in 1952
009014 - collected by Harold St. John in 1952
008992 - collected by Harold St. John in 1952
009000 - collected by Harold St. John in 1952
008988 - collected by Harold St. John in 1952
009006 - collected by Harold St. John in 1952
008999 - collected by Harold St. John in 1952
008987 - collected by E. J. Ozaki in 1952
009007 - collected by Harold St. John in 1952
009005 - collected by Harold St. John in 1952
009010 - collected by Harold St. John in 1952
009002 - collected by E. J. Ozaki in 1953
008989 - collected by Harold St. John in 1953
009001 - collected by Harold St. John in 1953
009003 - collected by Harold St. John in 1954
008993 - collected by Harold St. John in 1955
008994 - collected by Harold St. John in 1955
008996 - collected by Harold St. John in 1955
036489 - collected by G. C. Munro in 1955
037182 - collected by Charles H. Lamoureux in 1955
037181 - collected by Charles H. Lamoureux in 1955
037180 - collected by Charles H. Lamoureux in 1955
037179 - collected by Charles H. Lamoureux in 1955
036482 - collected by Harold St. John in 1955
008995 - collected by Harold St. John in 1955
033752 - collected by F. R. Warshauer in 1955
009012 - collected by Harold St. John in 1956
066691 - collected by Otto Degener in 1960
047612 - collected by V. J. Krajina in 1962
066686 - collected by Otto Degener in 1963
009009 - collected by Bob Hobdy in 1964
066690 - collected by Otto Degener in 1968
008997 - collected by Harold St. John in 1968
008991 - collected by Bob Hobdy in 1969
016762 - collected by Derral Herbst in 1971
016764 - collected by Derral Herbst in 1971
016763 - collected by Derral Herbst in 1972
009016 - collected by Harold St. John in 1972
031838 - collected by Derral Herbst in 1972
095634 - collected by Derral Herbst in 1972
016760 - collected by W. M. Bush in 1974
016761 - collected by Steven P. Darwin in 1975
036498 - collected by Baker in 1977
009004 - collected by Harold St. John in 1978
036585 - collected by Derral Herbst in 1978
036585 - collected by Derral Herbst in 1978
016766 - collected by Thomas B. Croat in 1978
095627 - collected by E. Kridler in 1979
016755 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1981
016757 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1982
016756 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1983
038380 - collected by J. P. M. Brenan in 1985
016754 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1985
016750 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1985
016752 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1987
016774 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1987
013610 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1987
016749 - collected by David H. Lorence in 1987
016765 - collected by David H. Lorence in 1987
015158 - collected by David H. Lorence in 1988
001730 - collected by David H. Lorence in 1988
016751 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1988
016759 - collected by John H. R. Plews in 1988
016753 - collected by David H. Lorence in 1988
016758 - collected by David H. Lorence in 1988
002154 - collected by Lynwood Hume in 1989
019585 - collected by F. R. Fosberg in 1991
S047641 - collected by Diane Ragone in 1991
012026 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1991
013674 - collected by David H. Lorence in 1992
036390 - collected by Patti Welton in 1992
042792 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1992
018002 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1992
018001 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1994
015523 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1994
037683 - collected by Art Whistler in 1995
042735 - collected by Art Whistler in 1995
027244 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1996
S047703 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1998
043231 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2000
043196 - collected by Liloa Dunn in 2003
045461 - collected by Liloa Dunn in 2003
039893 - collected by Nancy Vander Velde in 2003
061909 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2004
048863 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2005
047346 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2005
046071 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2006
055364 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2006
056324 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2006
058576 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2006
048963 - collected by Clay Trauernicht in 2008
049416 - collected by Clay Trauernicht in 2009
065500 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2011
072981 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2011
063069 - collected by Nicole Shores in 2011
060277 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2012
061066 - collected by Mike DeMotta in 2012
070564 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2012
072744 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2012
070696 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2013
083396 - collected by Steve Perlman in 2013
093178 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2014
089735 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2014
Unassigned - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2015
091751 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2015
095136 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2015
095142 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2015
082530 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2015
082415 - collected by Maggie Sporck-Koehler in 2017
082414 - collected by Maggie Sporck-Koehler in 2017
081516 - collected by Dustin Wolkis in 2018
079801 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2018
079797 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2018
081597 - collected by Dustin Wolkis in 2018
080341 - collected by Barbara Kennedy in 2018
082433 - collected by Dustin Wolkis in 2019
081510 - collected by Dustin Wolkis in 2020
083411 - collected by Ben Nyberg in 2020
083428 - collected by Seana Walsh in 2020
087936 - collected by Hank Oppenheimer in 2021
087371 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2022
094366 - collected by Randy Umetsu in 2023
Unassigned - collected by Alina Wood in 2024

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