The 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

San Diego County, California

San Diego County is a large county located in the southwestern corner of the US state of California. Hence, San Diego County is also located in the southwestern corner of the 48 contiguous United States. Its county seat and largest city is San Diego. Its population was about 2,813,835 in the 2000...

. It is a member of the chaparral plant community

Chaparral

Chaparral is a shrubland or heathland plant community found primarily in the U.S. state of California and in the northern portion of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico...

.

The plant bears hairy, juicy, toothed leaves which despite the plant's common name are light green, never copper

Copper (color)

Copper is a reddish brown color that resembles the metal copper.At right is displayed the color copper.The first recorded use of copper as a color name in English was in 1594.-Pale copper:...

 in color. Each flower is made up of a staminate

Stamen

The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...

 part, which appears as a long spike of tiny red and pink bract

Bract

In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture...

s, and a pistillate part at the base of the spike, which is a cup made up of green bracts bearing the ovary.

External links

• CalFlora detail photos
• Jepson Manual Treatment
• USDA Plants Profile