Comments on: Sida retusa, Paddy’s Lucerne (Sida rhombifolia)

By: Belle

Belle — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 21:58:07 +0000

Thanks for such interesting information Jan, I didn’t realize paper and rope could be made from it – might try that one day

By: Jan

Jan — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 10:15:14 +0000

The plant is very fibrous and can form big fibrous balls in the gut of grazing animals (in fact you can make a good fibre from the stems – just rot the stems in water for a while and scrape the rotted bits off the fibre. It makes nice paper and rope). However in big droughts this tough weed is more likely to survive and has saved the lives of animals – graziers used to call it Paddy’s Lucerne.

By: Belle

Belle — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 11:19:31 +0000

Hi Sandy, Not all animals will eat the same plants and they will only eat certain plants when they need them. I had a lovely dog once who I saw eating lemon grass but she only did this rarely and must have needed something from it. We had two other lovely dogs at the time too and they never touched the plant. Being high in mucilage Sida may not be a desirable plant for the digestive systems of cows and horses but you would know more about this than I do. They’re my thoughts anyway. Hopefully someone else may be able to add to this.

By: Sandy Robertson

Sandy Robertson — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 23:28:49 +0000

Hi all, very interesting, I’ve always hated this plant for it’s ‘weediness’ inmy pastures, but can now consider it with a new perspective, however I was wondering, if Sida is such a useful plant, why do stock leave it untouched in the paddock and hence it’s extensive “weedy” habit. I think the sheep have occiasionally nibbled the tips, but the horses don’t touch it and I don’t think the cattle do either. Usually livestock will eat something “healty” when they instinctively need it. Any thoughts.

By: Belle

Belle — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 01:11:45 +0000

That’s very interesting thanks Macropodmum, I wonder if the wildlife carers in my area use it for joeys, I’ll mention it to them in case.

By: Macropodmum

Macropodmum — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 07:35:41 +0000

Wildlife carers have been using this for years to pull up diarrhea in orphaned joeys, wasn’t aware that it had been used for people too, thanks for the info.

By: Belle

Belle — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 04:34:40 +0000

You’re very welcome Abe. It’s a wonderful herb and your pronunciation is what the locals call it in the South Burnett where I live and this seems to be a twist on one of its common names, Sida-retusa. I found the local pronunciation a bit tricky when I was trying to identify the plant

By: Abe

Abe — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 04:37:34 +0000

Thanks for this article.I have been trying to identify this plant for years. It was given me to chew by an Islander friend. It relieves nausea and gut pains.
Around this area of the Queensland Capricorn Coast it is called “Sydra Tuschia” (my spelling).

By: Balvinder

Balvinder — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 07:43:58 +0000

Hi! Everyone, Would you recommend this herb to pregnant women for the removal of tissue toxins in the uterus and pelvis?

By: lakshmy

lakshmy — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:40:54 +0000

Sida retusa or Sida rhombifolia is a common weed in kerala ,India.Here it is used in ayurvedic medicine since 3 or 4 AD. It is a wonder drug used in many degenerative conditions.it is rich in antioxidants.