Contains 9 accepted taxa overall.
Characteristics
Classification
Citation
ACALYPHA Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1003. 1753.
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TYPE: Acalypha virginica Linnaeus Lectotypified by Small, in Britton & A. Brown, Ill. Fl. N. U.S., ed. 2. 2: 457. 1913.
Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Status | Photos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acalypha alopecuroidea | FOXTAIL COPPERLEAF | Not Native | |
| Acalypha arvensis | FIELD COPPERLEAF | Not Native | |
| Acalypha chamaedrifolia | BASTARD COPPERLEAF | Native | |
| Acalypha gracilens | SLENDER THREESEED MERCURY | Native FAC (NWPL) | |
| Acalypha herzogiana | DWARF CAT'S TAIL; DWARF CHENILLE PLANT; STRAWBERRY FIRETAILS | Not Native | |
| Acalypha ostryifolia | PINELAND THREESEED MERCURY | Native | |
| Acalypha rhomboidea | DIAMOND THREESEED MERCURY | Native FAC (NWPL) | |
| Acalypha setosa | CUBAN COPPERLEAF | Not Native | |
| Acalypha wilkesiana | WILKES' COPPERLEAF | Not Native FAC (NWPL) |
[Family identification key]
1. Shrubs, 2-5 m tall; leaf blades 9-20 cm long, often variegated
1. Herbs, to 1 m tall; leaf blades 1-10 cm long, green
2
2. Plant to 25 cm tall; petioles 1-5 mm long; leaf blades 0.3-2.1 cm long, 0.3-1.4 cm wide
2. Plant 15-100 cm tall; petioles 4-70 mm long; leaf blades 2-12 cm long, 1.2-6.5 cm wide
3
3. Repent, stoloniferous herb; axillary pistillate inflorescence without bracts, the terminal inflorescence staminate, pistillate with bracts, or bright red of densely congested styles lacking ovaries and lacking bracts
3. Erect to ascending annual herb; pistillate flowers axillary or terminal, with bracts, staminate ones distal to the pistillate flowers in the same inflorescence or in a separate axillary inflorescence
4
4. Pistillate bracts densely crowded, unlobed with linear tips, with hairs to 2 mm long, the inflorescence having a bottlebrush appearance
5
4. Pistillate bracts distant to crowded, each with several lobes or teeth, with non-glandular hairs to 0.3 mm long, the inflorescence unlike a bottlebrush in appearance
6
5. Petiole 0.6-1.8 times as long as the leaf blade; stems, petioles, peduncles, and pistillate bracts stipitate-glandular; staminate inflorescence axillary, pistillate inflorescence terminal; styles unbranched or rarely 2-fid
5. Petiole 0.1-0.4 times as long as the leaf blade; stems, petioles, and peduncles not stipitate-glandular (pistillate bracts stipitate-glandular); inflorescences axillary, pistillate and bisexual; styles multifid or laciniate
6. Inflorescence bisexual, axillary, pistillate portion basal typically with 1-3 pistillate bracts with deltate to lanceolate lobes, staminate portion distal
7
6. Inflorescence unisexual, staminate one axillary, pistillate one terminal with up to 60 pistillate bracts with linear lobes
8
7. Petiole 0.2-1.2(-1.8) cm long; leaf blade oblong-lanceolate to linear-lanceolate; pistillate bracts sessile-glandular
7. Petiole 0.4-7 cm long; leaf blade ovate to broadly rhombic; pistillate bracts stipitate-glandular
8. Leaf blade bases cordate; pistillate bracts 13- to 17-lobed, pubescent and stipitate-glandular, subequal to the fruit; fruit tuberculate; seeds tuberculate
8. Leaf blade bases obtuse, rounded, to truncate; pistillate bracts 6- to 9-(13-)lobed, glabrous, exceeding the fruit; fruit smooth; seeds minutely pitted