SIDA, Tellora or Indian Mallow, in botany: A genus of plants belonging to the class of monadelphous, and to the order of polyandria; and in the natural system ranging under the 37th order, Columnifera. The calyx is simple and angulated; the style is divided into many parts; there are several capsules, each containing one seed. There are 27 species. 1. The Spinosa; 2. Angustifolia; 3. Alba; 4. Rhombifolia; 5. Alnifolia; 6. Ciliaris; 7. Retusa; 8. Triquetra; 9. Jamienensis; 10. Carpinifolia; 11. Vifosa; 12. Cordifolia; 13. Umbellata; 14. Paniculata; 15. Atrofanguinea; 16. Periplocifolia; 17. Urens; 18. Arborea; 19. Ocidentalis; 20. Americana; 21. Abutilon; 22. Mauritiana; 23. Afiatica; 24. Indica; 25. Crissa; 26. Crissata; 27. Fernata. The first 18 species have 15 capsules; the rest are multicapsular. They are all natives of warm climates; and most of them are found in the East or West Indies.
The Chinese make cords of the sida abutilon. This plant loves water, and may be advantageously planted in marshes and ditches, where nothing else will grow. From experiments made by the Abbé Cavanilles, a Spizniard, which are inserted in the Mém. de l'Acad. Royale, it appears that the plants succeed best when sown in May, and they arrive at perfection in three months and a half. The maceration of the smaller stalks is finished in about 15 days; of the larger in a month. The strength and goodness of the thread appeared to be in proportion to the perfection of the vegetation, and to the distance the plant was kept at from other plants. The fibres lie in strata, of which there are sometimes six: they are not quite straight, but prefer an undulating direction, so as to form a network in their matu-
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positions. Their smell resembles that of hemp; the fibres are whiter, but more dry and harsh than those of hemp. The harshness is owing to a greenish gluten which connects the fibres; and the white colour must always be obtained at the expense of having this kind of thread less supple; when of its natural hue, it is very soft and flexible. This description belongs chiefly to the fida; but it will also apply to the malva crispa, Peruviana, and Mauritiana. The malva crispa gave, however, the greatest quantity of fibres, and its gluten was most copious. The fibres of the fida abutilon, and the malva crispa, are the longest and the strongest; those of the Peruviana and Mauritiana are the shortest and weakest. The fibres of those plants which had lost their leaves are less strong, though of equal length with those which had preserved them.