Southern ‘weed’ can be used to make rope, paper, cloth, and medicine; and it’s not pot

SHREVEPORT, La. ( KTAL/KMSS ) – A plant that commonly grows in almost every parish in Louisiana can be used to make cord, twine, brooms, clothing, and can potentially treat a wide variety of medical issues—including liver cancer and diabetes . And this particular “weed” has been growing in the South for a long time, too.

And for generations now, Acadians in Southern Louisiana have historically called the plant “ Gombo de Ste. Jeanne ” which translates to Saint Jeanne’s gumbo, likely because flowers of the Sida rhombifolia plant look a lot like okra flowers.

What it looks like

You may already have Sida rhombifolia growing on your property. It has dark green, diamond-shaped leaves with short, gray hairs. The edges of the leaves look jagged and the plant is covered in tiny, yellowish to orange-yellow flowers.

This particular Sida plant, which is called Mahabala in Sanskrit , is covered in tiny, yellow flowers that are shaped like pinwheels. The tiny flowers stay clamped-shut most of the morning, but usually open by noon when the sun is high overhead.

You’ll find Sida rhombifolia growing along roadsides and in rocky areas, but it can also be found in pastures or in swamps.

And it’s important that you can identify this plant that has been used by humans since ancient times because historic uses for Sida rhombifolia included treating scorpion and wasp stings, snake bites, skin diseases, stomach issues, malaria, diabetes , chickenpox, headaches, toothaches, gum infections, and more.

Sida rhombifolia can be found almost anywhere in Louisiana, where its branches were often (historically speaking) made into brooms.

Sida rhombifolia has been called Indian Tea, Cuban Jute, and Indian Hemp. In the American South, the plant is thought of as a weed because it can infest crops. But in other parts of the world, Sida rhombifolia has a wide array of popular uses.

Some forms of Sida are native to the New World, while others are native to the Old World. But there is no question that all Sidas are named after a Greek word that means “water lily.”

Historic uses of Sinda rhombifolia

Modern studies have found the plant has antibacterial , antifungal, antiarthritic , and antioxidant properties.

But one of the reasons that Southerners tend to think of this plant as a weed is because farmers, homesteaders, and ranchers in the Deep South have learned (the hard way, mind you) that Sida rhombifolia is poisonous to livestock . Not only can it kill cows, but it’s also a very stubborn perennial shrub that is very difficult to remove.

But Sida rhombifolia is also a beneficial plant, and there are reasons why you should consider keeping it on your property.

Why Sida rhombifolia matters

In parts of Mexico and on Canary Island , the leaves of Sida rhombifolia are used to make a tea that contains ephedrine , which can make your heart race and your blood pressure rise.

You can make paper from the plant’s pulp , and some scientists say that making paper from Sida rhombifolia has the potential to stop deforestation in some parts of the world.

Scientists have also indicated that parts of the plant might be used to treat liver cancer .

The leaves of Sida rhombifolia can be used in the production of yellow dye for fabric , and the leaves can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable that’s high in protein.

Studies of Sida rhombifolia in Cameroon show that textiles made from the plant are biodegradable and environmentally friendly.

One study shows that the plant can be used to treat tuberculosis and rheumatism , and the roots and stems of Sida rhombifolia may remedy heart disease, fever, and inflammation. It also has anti-inflammatory and antimalarial agents.

Sida rhombifolia is native to the tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World, but it has been planted throughout the subtropics along the Gulf Coast in the United States where it is typically a perennial plant.

Butterflies and bees love it.

Sida rhombifolia naturally thrives in the Deep South, and it has been called a “plant for a future.”

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