Practical Identification of Weeds in the Sida L
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Practical identification of weeds in the Sida L. Researchers and professional farmers in tropical sub-Saharan Africa are often faced with the problem of identifying certain weeds. Complete samples, including flowers and fruit, are required to be able to accurately identify standard, but usually complex, weed flora. An identification key, based on leaf traits, is proposed for Sida L. species (Malvaceae family) commonly found in western Africa. Species can thus be readily identified from the first stages of development, before flowering. eed control strategies are How the key was Sida acuta. often developed in terms Photo CIRAD-AMATROP W of crop features when the developed weed flora present in the cropfield has not been fully characterized. Data for this identification key were region, solely based on vegetative Weed management should, how derived from botanical studies, most characters (LE BOURGEOIS & KAM- ever, be based on the biological and ly conducted in western Africa, BA, 1991). In addition, SEMELLART ecological characteristics of the along with analysis of herbarium (1992) published an identification weed population (LE BOURGEOIS, samples. table for the veronicas (Veronica spp. 1993; LE BOURGEOIS & MERLIER, (Tourn.) L., Scrofulariaceae family), 1995). The creation of simple crop weeds in France, based on leaf practical tools for rapid identification Flora guides used shape. of weeds at any development stage is Flore illustrée du Sénégal therefore a major weed science (BERHAUT, 1979) is a fully illustra research objective. Table of vegetative ted flora guide that is interesting The present study focuses on the Sida because many vegetative characters characters in the Sida L. L. genus (Malvaceae), common are described. Flora of West Tropical weeds of western Africa. As farmers Africa (HUTCHINSON ef al., 1958) genus and control operators have access to is very complete but mainly based on Whenever possible, the descriptive this identification key, targeted and flower characteristics. The elements were characterized using fully adapted weed control methods Handbook o f West African Weeds herbarium samples obtained from could now be recommended. (AKOBUNDU & AGYAKWA, 1987) ClRAD's tropical weed science labo and the flora guide West African ratory and the Institut Botanique de Weeds (IVENS et ai, 1978) are com Montpellier (France). A table of the plementary works that include des N. VIAROUGE different vegetative characters was criptions, drawings and photographs drawn up (Table 1 ). Biology student (Université Montpellier II), of the whole plant. L'Habitarelle, 48170 Châteauneuf-de-Randon, France An identification key has already The descriptions mainly concern ful P. MARNOTTE, H. MERLIER been drawn up for the Eragrostis ly-developed leaves, as the shapes of CIRAD-CA, BP 5035, 34032 Montpellier Wolf genus (Poaceae family), annual leaves under inflorescences are high Cedex 1, France weeds of the northern Cameroon ly variable. The only characters Agriculture et développement ■ Special issue - M ay 1 997 Sida L. described (as simply as possible) are Sida L. genus those that are clearly visible on plants in situ habit, stem, base and apex of the lamina, lamina margin, General characteristics average size of the lamina, venation The Sida L. genus belongs to the Malvaceae family, which can be found throughout of the lamina base, lamina pubes the world, except in very cold regions. It mainly includes herbaceous plants, with cence, and the petiole. A minor some bushes, but very few trees. exception concerns the shape of the hairs (simple or stellate), which Malvaceae leaves are alternate, generally stipulate, and the leaves and stems are requires a magnifying glass or a trai always downy. The corolla (generally white, pink, red or yellow) is formed by ned eye. five petals inserted at the base of the central column, which bears the stamens. The sepals, fused at the base, can be accompanied by bracteoles, forming an epicalyx. The fruit is a capsule formed by several loculi that contain the seeds. The floral diagram for the Malvaceae family is very stable for all genera. Some Malvaceae genera are of considerable economic interest, i.e. for the The identification production of textile fibres extracted from the stems (Hibiscus, Abutilón, Urena and even Sida L.; BOULANGER, 1977) or capsules (cotton, genius Gossypium). Some key Malvaceae genera are used in horticulture (Hibiscus, Abutilón, etc.). The nine species can be dichoto- The Sida genus includes weeds that can threaten crops. mously identified solely on the basis of eight leaf traits. Botanical features of the Sida species studied The Sida L. species described in this study are generally annual plants which sometimes lignify at the base and persist for several years. Both herbaceous and bushy plants can thus be found within the same species population. The density Major characters of pubescence on the leaves and stems can vary under different environmental conditions. Nevertheless, this pubescent trait is common to all Sida species, and Only eight main characters are taken particularly pronounced in 5. cordit'olia, which remains very downy throughout into consideration in the key (Table 3). the year. Based on these criteria, several keys could have been developed by Distribution of Sida L. species simply changing the dichotomous According to HUTCHINSON (1967) quoted by UGBOROGHO (1983), there are order of the characters used for the 250 Sida L. species distributed throughout the Americas and warmest regions of both identification. After investigating dif hemispheres. ferent combinations, a single key was adopted for identifying species HUTCHINSON et al. (1958) identified 11 species of this genus in western Africa (Table 2). Among these, 5. stipulata Cav. and 5. acuta Burm. f. are now classified as with minimum confusion. The iden the same species; 5. scabrida W ight & Arn. is not mentioned in this study as it is a rare tification begins with the plant habit, species and not considered to be a weed. which is a very obvious character (Table 3, Figure 1 ). All other keys tes ted had various disadvantages. For instance, pubescence could be Table 2. Classification of nine Sida L. weed species of western Africa considered in the initial identifica (from MERLIER, 1994). tion steps as this character is easily assessed by confirmed botanists, but Valid name Synonyms it can be confusing for non-specia- Sida acuta Burm. f. Sida carpignifolia auct., non L. lists. A key that starts with this identi Sida stipula Cav. fication criterion would therefore be Sida alba L. Sida spinosa L. unsuitable. The length of the petiole Sida cordifolia L. Sida althaeifolia Sw. was considered as a starting point for another key. However, this measure Sida garckeana Pol. Sida corymbosa R.E. Fr. ment is difficult to evaluate without Sida linifolia C. )uss. ex Cav. comparison, and too many species Sida ovata Forssk. Sida grewioides Guill. & Perr. have a short petiole. Sida pilosa Retz. Melochia cordata Burm. f. Sida cordata (Burm. f.) Borss. Waalk Sida veronicifolia Lam. Starting point: plant habit Sida humilis Cav. From the key shown in Figure 1, Sida rhombifolia L. Sida riparia Hochst. S. pilosa can be immediately identi Sida urens L. fied by its creeping habit. Then Agriculture et développement ■ Special issue - May 1 997 Sida L. S. linifolia is easily distinguished in S. cordifolia. If this pubescence is S. rhombifolia and S. acuta can be terms of leaf shape, as it is the only less marked, or absent, the length of differentiated as follows: the lamina species with a very long narrow leaf. the petiole is then considered for margin of S. acuta is dentate from the S. ovata is identified by the rounded identification of other species. base, while that of S. rhombifolia is shape of the lamina apex. For poin S. alba is characterized by a very only dentate from the lower third. ted apex leaves, species without a long petiole. Among species with a very cordate base are separated from short petiole, 5. garckeana is identi fied if the lamina margin is irregular 5. rhombifolia, S. acuta and 5. urens, which has a clearly cordate ly dentated. 5. garckeana are m orphologically leaf base. Then the pubescence den quite similar, but they can be easily sity is considered. Very dense and In the group of plants having lamina differentiated on the basis of des felt-like downy leaves indicate margins which are regularly dentated, criptions given in the key. Table 1. Table of vegetative traits of Sida L. species of western Africa. Habit Stem General Lamina Lamina Lamina Lamina Lamina Petiole lamina base apex margin size pubescence shape venation L* W* R* S. Pilosa Creeping Slender, Cordate Broadly Acuminate Doubly 5 cm ¡.25 5 Moderate Long roots at cordate dentate (almost as level of long as nodes the lamina) S. linifolia Upright, Woody Linear to Rounded Narrowly Entire 12 cm 1.5 cm 8 3 Moderate. Short diffuse. at base, lanceolate attenuate Simple (relative to Around hispid long hairs the length 60 cm on both of the surfaces lamina) S. ovata Upright. Covered Oval Rounded Terminated Crenellate 3 cm 2 cm 1i .50 ¡ ¡ l l l l i l f í ; Cottony, Medium Around with stellate elliptical slightly by a rounded particularly length 60 cm notched tooth on the under (1/3 of the surface. lamina). Small stellate Thickened hairs at both ends S. urens Upright. Covered Cordate Cordate Acuminate Dentate 5 cm 1.6 5 or 7 Considerable. Medium Up 0.5 hirsute Mix of length to 1 m simple and simple (1/4 of the stellate hairs stellate lamina) hairs S. cordifolia Upright. Very dense Oval Slightly Obtuse Dentate 5 cm 3 cm 1.6 5 Very dense Long Around pubescence notched, truncate felting (about as 1 m of stellate broadly of stellate long as hairs rounded hairs, the lamina). greater on Thickened under at the surface S.