Sida cordifolia - Bala

This page is a stub. Learn how you can help expanding it.

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
alternate	stipulate	The leaves are alternate, stipulate, paripinnate compound, very numerous, closely placed, rachis 8.8-12.5 cm long, narrowly furrowed, slender, pubescent, with an erect linear gland between the leaflets of each pair, leaflets 16-24, very shortly stalked 2-2.5 cm long 1-1.3 cm broad, slightly overlapping, oval oblong, obtuse, at both the ends

.

Flower

Type	Size	Color and composition	Stamen	More information
bisexual	2.5 cm long	bright yellow	5-20	The racemes are few-flowered, short, erect, crowded in axils of upper leaves so as to form a large terminal inflorescence stamens barren; the ovary is superior, unilocular, with marginal ovules.

Fruit

Type	Size	Mass	Appearance	Seeds	More information
short legume	7.5–11 cm long, 1.5 cm broad	clearly grooved lengthwise, Lowest hooked hairs aligned towards crown	oblong, obtuse, tipped with long style base, flat, thin, papery, undulately crimpled, pilose, pale brown.	12-20 seeds	{{{6}}}

List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used

• Vishatinduka Taila as root juice extract

Mode of Propagation

Seeds, Cuttings.

How to plant/cultivate

Plants reach about 3 m height with 3.5 cm stem diameter in 2 years, in 4 years about 5 m height and 7 cm stem diameter. Flowering and fruiting is almost throughout the year, but in India there are usually two main flowering periods, one in the early monsoon and another in the late monsoon.

Commonly seen growing in areas

Tropical, Subtropical plains, Sandy soil.

Photo Gallery

• 
• 
•