Sida cordifolia - Bala

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Bala, Sida cordifolia

Bala or Sida cordifolia (ilima, flannel weed, bala, country mallow or heart-leaf sida) is a perennial shrub of the mallow family Malvaceae native to India. Sida cordifolia or Bala is a plant. The seeds and root are used to make medicine. Sida cordifolia contains ephedrine, which is an amphetamine-like stimulant that can cause harmful side effects. ... Some people use Sida cordifolia as a stimulant, painkiller, and tonic; and to increase urine production and raise sexual arousal.

Uses

Bleeding piles, Diarrhea, Fever, Gonorrhea, Aphrodisiac, wounds, Ophthalmia, Painful urination, Paralysis, headache, loss of voice

Parts Used

Root, seed, Leaves.

Chemical Composition

The following alkaloids were reported from S. cordifolia growing in India and β-phenethylamine, ephedrine, pseudo-ephedrine, S-(+)-Nb-methyltryptophan methyl ester, hypaphorine, vasicinone, vasicinol, choline, and betaine.

Common names

Language	Common name
Kannada	Hethutti, Bili kurunthotti
Hindi	Bariar, Kungyi Khareti, Kharenti
Malayalam	Vellooram, Velluram
Tamil	Mayir-manikham
Telugu	chirubenda
Marathi	NA
Gujarathi	NA
Punjabi	NA
Kashmiri	NA
Sanskrit	Bala, Batyalaka
English	Country mallow

Habit

perennial shrub

Identification

Leaf

Kind	Shape	Feature
serrate	Heart shaped	The leaves are truncate, 2.5-7 cm long and 2.5-5 cm broad, with 7-9 veins

.

Flower

Type	Size	Color and composition	Stamen	More information
Small	2.5 cm long	yellow or white in colour	Petals 5	solitary and axillaries; Calyx campanulate; lobes 5, triangular, densely pubescent outside. Petals 5, pale yellow. Stamens monadelphous and Plant flowers from August to December

Fruit

Type	Size	Mass	Appearance	Seeds	More information
Loculicidal capsule	7.5–11 cm long, 1.5 cm broad	fruits are with 8 – 10 strongly reticulated mericarps, ciliate on the upper margins and fruiting from October to January.	12-20 seeds	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}

List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used

• Vishatinduka Taila as root juice extract

Mode of Propagation

Seeds.

How to plant/cultivate

Prefers a lighter, sandy soil in a sunny position

Commonly seen growing in areas

Tropical, Subtropical plains, Sandy soil.

Photo Gallery

• (Sida cordifolia) at Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary 01.JPG 1,268 × 951; 678 KB
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• (Sida cordifolia) at Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary 02.JPG 988 × 741; 483 KB
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• (Sida cordifolia) at Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary 03.JPG 2,809 × 2,107; 2.48 MB
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• (Sida cordifolia) at Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary 04.JPG 2,495 × 1,794; 2.34 MB
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• (Sida cordifolia) at Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary 05.JPG 2,815 × 2,111; 3.11 MB
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• Country Mallow (Sida cordifolia) (17389129342).jpg 5,472 × 3,648; 17.01 MB
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• Country Mallow (Sida cordifolia) flowers (17365242416).jpg 5,472 × 3,648; 7.97 MB
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• Flickr - João de Deus Medeiros - Sida cordifolia.jpg 1,024 × 768; 286 KB
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• Sida cordifolia (Bala) in Hyderabad, AP W IMG 9420.jpg 667 × 550; 157 KB
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• Sida cordifolia (Bala) in Hyderabad, AP W IMG 9422.jpg 800 × 483; 152 KB