Acalypha
Encyclopedia
Acalypha is a plant
genus
of the family
Euphorbiaceae
. It is the sole genus of the subtribe Acalyphinae. With 450 to 500 species
of herb
s and shrub
s, the genus is only behind Euphorbia, Croton
and Phyllanthus
in term of Malpighiales
diversity. The common names are copperleaves or three-seeded mercuries.
These plants are mostly tropical
or subtropical (but not present in Hawaiʻi and several other Pacific Islands
), with a few representatives in temperate zones. The Americas
contain two thirds of the known species, distributed from southern United States
to Uruguay
and northern Argentina
.
Several species, such as A. ecuadorica
, A. eggersii
and A. raivavensis
are nearly extinct, and the St. Helena Mountain Bush or "stringwood" (A. rubrinervis) already is.
(A. hispida), cultivated as houseplant
because of its colorful and texturally exciting flowers, is by far the best-known species. Others are grown for their foliage and a number of cultivar
s have been developed, such as A. wilkesiana cv. 'Obovata Cristata'. A. bipartita
is eaten as a vegetable in some parts of Africa.
Plant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of the family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbiaceae, the Spurge family are a large family of flowering plants with 300 genera and around 7,500 species. Most are herbs, but some, especially in the tropics, are also shrubs or trees. Some are succulent and resemble cacti....
. It is the sole genus of the subtribe Acalyphinae. With 450 to 500 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of herb
Herb
Except in botanical usage, an herb is "any plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume" or "a part of such a plant as used in cooking"...
s and shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
s, the genus is only behind Euphorbia, Croton
Croton (genus)
Croton is an extensive flowering plant genus in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, established by Carl Linnaeus in 1737. The plants of this genus were described and introduced to Europeans by Georg Eberhard Rumphius. The common names for this genus are rushfoil and croton, but the latter also...
and Phyllanthus
Phyllanthus
Phyllanthus is the largest genus in the flowering plant family Phyllanthaceae. Estimates of the number species in this genus vary widely, from 750 to 1200. Phyllanthus has a remarkable diversity of growth forms including annual and perennial herbs, shrubs, climbers, floating aquatics, and...
in term of Malpighiales
Malpighiales
Malpighiales is one of the largest orders of flowering plants, containing about 16000 species, approximately 7.8% of the eudicots. The order is very diverse and hard to recognize except with molecular phylogenetic evidence. It is not part of any of the classification systems that are based only on...
diversity. The common names are copperleaves or three-seeded mercuries.
These plants are mostly tropical
Tropics
The tropics is a region of the Earth surrounding the Equator. It is limited in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere at approximately N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere at S; these latitudes correspond to the axial tilt of the Earth...
or subtropical (but not present in Hawaiʻi and several other Pacific Islands
Pacific Islands
The Pacific Islands comprise 20,000 to 30,000 islands in the Pacific Ocean. The islands are also sometimes collectively called Oceania, although Oceania is sometimes defined as also including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago....
), with a few representatives in temperate zones. The Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
contain two thirds of the known species, distributed from southern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
and northern Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
.
Several species, such as A. ecuadorica
Acalypha ecuadorica
Acalypha ecuadorica is a species of plant in the Euphorbiaceae family. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests.-Source:* Santiana, J., Cerón, C. & Pitman, N. 2004. . Downloaded on 20 August 2007....
, A. eggersii
Acalypha eggersii
Acalypha eggersii is a species of plant in the Euphorbiaceae family. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests.-Source:* Santiana, J., Cerón, C. & Pitman, N. 2004. . Downloaded on 20 August 2007....
and A. raivavensis
Acalypha raivavensis
Acalypha raivavensis is a species of plant in the Euphorbiaceae family. It is endemic to French Polynesia.-Source:* Florence, J. 1998. . Downloaded on 20 August 2007....
are nearly extinct, and the St. Helena Mountain Bush or "stringwood" (A. rubrinervis) already is.
Uses
Chenille PlantChenille plant
Acalypha hispida, the Chenille plant, is a flowering shrub which belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae, the subfamily Acalyphinae, and the genus Acalypha. Acalypha is the fourth largest genus of the Euphorbiaceae family, and contains many plants native to Hawaii and Oceania...
(A. hispida), cultivated as houseplant
Houseplant
A houseplant is a plant that is grown indoors in places such as residences and offices. Houseplants are commonly grown for decorative purposes, positive psychological effects, or health reasons such as indoor air purification...
because of its colorful and texturally exciting flowers, is by far the best-known species. Others are grown for their foliage and a number of cultivar
Cultivar
A cultivar'Cultivar has two meanings as explained under Formal definition. When used in reference to a taxon, the word does not apply to an individual plant but to all those plants sharing the unique characteristics that define the cultivar. is a plant or group of plants selected for desirable...
s have been developed, such as A. wilkesiana cv. 'Obovata Cristata'. A. bipartita
Acalypha bipartita
Acalypha bipartita is a species in the botanical family Euphorbiaceae. It occurs widely in Africa where it is eaten as a vegetable, or fed to animals.- External links :*...
is eaten as a vegetable in some parts of Africa.
Selected species
- Acalypha alopecuroides
- Acalypha amentacea
- Acalypha amentacea subsp. wilkesiana (syn. A. godseffiana)
- Acalypha andinaAcalypha andinaAcalypha andina is a species of plant in the Euphorbiaceae family. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montanes and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.-References:...
- Acalypha arvensis
- Acalypha australis
- Acalypha bipartitaAcalypha bipartitaAcalypha bipartita is a species in the botanical family Euphorbiaceae. It occurs widely in Africa where it is eaten as a vegetable, or fed to animals.- External links :*...
- Acalypha bisetosa
- Acalypha californicaAcalypha californicaThe flowering shrub Acalypha californica is known as the California copperleaf, and sometimes by the older name Pringle three-seeded mercury. It is the only Acalypha species native to California, where it is most abundant in the hills of San Diego County...
– California Copperleaf, Pringle Three-seeded Mercury - Acalypha chlorocardia
- Acalypha chuniana
- Acalypha ciliataAcalypha ciliataAcalypha ciliata is a species in the botanical family Euphorbiaceae. It occurs widely in Africa where it is eaten as a vegetable, or fed to animals. In West Africa and East Africa it is used as a medicinal plant. - Geographic distribution :...
- Acalypha costaricensis
- Acalypha dictyoneuraAcalypha dictyoneuraAcalypha dictyoneura is a species of plant in the Euphorbiaceae family. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes.-Source:* Santiana, J., Cerón, C. & Pitman, N. 2004. . Downloaded on 20 August 2007....
- Acalypha diversifolia
- Acalypha ecuadoricaAcalypha ecuadoricaAcalypha ecuadorica is a species of plant in the Euphorbiaceae family. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests.-Source:* Santiana, J., Cerón, C. & Pitman, N. 2004. . Downloaded on 20 August 2007....
- Acalypha eggersiiAcalypha eggersiiAcalypha eggersii is a species of plant in the Euphorbiaceae family. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests.-Source:* Santiana, J., Cerón, C. & Pitman, N. 2004. . Downloaded on 20 August 2007....
- Acalypha fruticosaAcalypha fruticosaAcalypha fruticosa is a species in the botanical family Euphorbiaceae. It occurs widely in East and southern Africa where it is eaten as a vegetable. It is also an important browse plant for sheep. In East Africa and southern Africa it is used as a medicinal plant. In northern Kenya arrow shafts...
- Acalypha glabrata
- Acalypha gracilens
- Acalypha gummifera
- Acalypha hispida – Chenille PlantChenille plantAcalypha hispida, the Chenille plant, is a flowering shrub which belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae, the subfamily Acalyphinae, and the genus Acalypha. Acalypha is the fourth largest genus of the Euphorbiaceae family, and contains many plants native to Hawaii and Oceania...
, Philippine Medusa, Red-hot Cattail, "foxtailFoxtail-Plants:*Foxtail , the dry spikelet or spikelet cluster of some grasses** Alopecurus ** Bromus madritensis ** Hordeum jubatum...
" - Acalypha hontauyuensisAcalypha hontauyuensisAcalypha hontauyuensis is a species of plant in the Euphorbiaceae family. It is endemic to Taiwan. It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:* Pan, F.J. 1998. . Downloaded on 20 August 2007....
- Acalypha indicaAcalypha indicaAcalypha indica is a species of plant. It occurs throughout tropical Africa and South Africa, in India and Sri Lanka, as well as in Yemen and Pakistan...
, Indian Acalypha - Acalypha integrifoliaAcalypha integrifoliaAcalypha integrifolia is a species in the botanical family Euphorbiaceae. It is locally used as a medicinal plant. Leaf decoctions are drunk to treat intestinal worms.- Geographic distribution :...
- Acalypha klavea
- Acalypha × lancasteri
- Acalypha lancetillae
- Acalypha lepineiAcalypha lepineiAcalypha lepinei is a species of plant in the Euphorbiaceae family. It is endemic to French Polynesia.-References:* Florence, J. 1998. . Downloaded on 20 August 2007....
- Acalypha leptopoda
- Acalypha macrostachya
- Acalypha monococca
- Acalypha mortoniana
- Acalypha ornataAcalypha ornataAcalypha ornata is a species in the botanical family Euphorbiaceae. In Africa it is widely used as a medicinal plant. The stems are used as fibres for weaving baskets. The leaves are eaten as a vegetable; the plants are also fed to domestic animals. Acalypha ornata is sometimes planted as an...
- Acalypha ostryifolia
- Acalypha pendula
- Acalypha phleoides
- Acalypha polystachya
- Acalypha portoricensis
- Acalypha psilostachyaAcalypha psilostachyaAcalypha psilostachya is a species in the botanical family Euphorbiaceae. In East Africa it is used as a medicinal plant.- Geographic distribution :...
- Acalypha radians
- Acalypha raivavensisAcalypha raivavensisAcalypha raivavensis is a species of plant in the Euphorbiaceae family. It is endemic to French Polynesia.-Source:* Florence, J. 1998. . Downloaded on 20 August 2007....
- Acalypha repens
- Acalypha reptans
- Acalypha rhomboideaAcalypha rhomboideaAcalypha rhomboidea Acalypha rhomboidea Acalypha rhomboidea ( Common three-seeded mercury, Rhombic three-seeded-mercury, Rhomboid mercury, Copperleaf, Rhombic copper-leaf, Three-seeded-mercury, Ricinelle rhomboide, Diamond threeseed mercury; syn. Acalypha urticifolia Raf., Acalypha virginica L....
– Common Copperleaf, Common Three-seeded Mercury - Acalypha rubrinervisAcalypha rubrinervisAcalypha rubrinervis is an extinct plant in the spurge family , from the island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean. It was called string tree on account of the thin pendulous inflorescences which resembled red strings...
– St. Helena Mountain Bush, String Tree, Stringwood - extinct (c.1860) - Acalypha schimpffiiAcalypha schimpffiiAcalypha schimpffii is a species of plant in the Euphorbiaceae family. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes.-References:* Santiana, J., Cerón, C. & Pitman, N. 2004. . Downloaded on 20 August 2007....
- Acalypha setosa
- Acalypha siamensis
- Acalypha skutchii
- Acalypha sonderiana
- Acalypha suirenbiensisAcalypha suirenbiensisAcalypha suirenbiensis is a species of plant in the Euphorbiaceae family. It is endemic to Taiwan. It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:* Pan, F.J. 1998. . Downloaded on 20 August 2007....
- Acalypha tunguraguaeAcalypha tunguraguaeAcalypha tunguraguae is a species of plant in the Euphorbiaceae family. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes.-References:...
- Acalypha umbrosa
- Acalypha villicaulisAcalypha villicaulisAcalypha villicaulis is a species in the botanical family Euphorbiaceae. In tropical Africa it is widely used as a medicinal plant.- Geographic distribution :Acalypha villicaulis occurs throughout tropical Africa, except humid central Africa....
- Acalypha villosa
- Acalypha virginica – Virginia Copperleaf, Virginia Three-seeded Mercury
- Acalypha wilkesiana – Beefsteakplant, Copperleaf, Fire-dragon, Jacob's-coat