Prickly sida originated in tropical America and then spread northward and westward. Today it is common throughout the Southern, Eastern and Midwestern states. The branching, upright growth of this plant seldom reaches more than one foot. When cut by a mower, it merely sends up new growth from the base. Prickly sida is an annual that gets it name from the spines or "prickles" which form at the base of the leaf stems. Leaves are alternate, oblong and toothed along the edges. Flowers are small with five pale yellow petals. It forms a seed capsule with five one-seeded sections and two sharp spines at the top.