PLANTS: Erect (sometimesdecumbent) annual or perennial herbs, glabrous or stellate-pubescent. LEAVES: long-petioled (at least basally), orbicular in outline, variously lobed or parted. INFLORESCENCE: usually a terminal spike or raceme; FLOWER: involucel absent; calyx 5-lobed; petals usually purple or lavender (sometimes yellowish or white); staminal column usually pubescent, the anthers in 2 series, the inner antisepalous, the outer antipetalous and lower; styles 5-9, the stigmatic surface introrsely decurrent. FRUITS: oblate, schizocarpic; mericarps 5-9, subreniform. SEEDS: solitary. NOTES: Ca 20 spp. from w U.S. and nw Mex. (Name compounded of the generic names Sida and Alcea). REFERENCES: Fryxell, Paul A. 1994. Malvaceae. J. Ariz. - Nev. Acad. Sci. Volume 27(2), 222-236.