Sida villosa Miller, Gard. Dict. ed. 8, Sida no. 6. 1768; Melochia hirsuta Cavanilles; M. hirsuta var. glabrescens (C. Presl) A. Gray; M. serrata (Ventenat) A. St. Hilaire & Naudin; Riedlea glabrescens (C. Presl) Small; R. hirsuta (Cavanilles) A. de Candolle; R. serrata Ventenat

Herbs, perennial, rarely shrubs, 0.3–2 m, taprooted. Stems erect or spreading, usually branched. Leaves: petiole acute; petals pink, purple, or violet, 8–11 × 2–3 mm; longistylous form: stamens 4–6 mm, filaments completely connate, pistil 7–8 mm; brevistylous form: stamens 5–8 mm, pistil 4–5 mm. Fruits capsules, brown, subglobose, not winged, not beaked, obscurely obtusely 5-angled, 2–3.5 × 2.5–4 mm, dehiscence loculicidal, tardily septicidal, fruit falling apart. Seeds usually 1 per locule.

Flowering year-round. Wet or dry pinelands and savanna; 0–2300 m; Fla., Ga., La.; Mexico; West Indies (Greater Antilles); South America.