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 | Herbarium Specimens | 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) |
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, sometimes with some stipitate glands
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
Genus Synonyms
| Synonym | Full Citation | Basionym | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acalyphopsis | Acalyphopsis Pax & K. Hoffmann, in Engler, Pflanzenr. 4(Heft 85): 178. 1924. | TYPE: Acalyphopsis Pax & K. Hoffmann | |
| Calyptrospatha | Calyptrospatha Klotzsch ex Peters, Naturw. Reise Mossambique 96, t. 18. 1861. | TYPE: Calyptrospatha pubiflora Klotzsch ex Peters | |
| Caturus | Caturus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. 12. 650. 1767; Mant. Pl. 19, 127. 1767. | TYPE: Caturus spiciflora Linnaeus | |
| Corythea | Corythea S. Watson, Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 22: 451. 1887. | TYPE: Corythea filipes S. Watson | |
| Cupameni | Cupameni Adanson, Fam. Pl. 2: 356. 1763. | TYPE: = Acalypha Linnaeus 1753. | |
| Cupamenis | Cupamenis Rafinesque, Sylva Tellur. 67. 1838. | TYPE: Acalypha indica Linnaeus Lectotypified by L. C. Wheeler, Index Nom. Gen. (Pl.) Card 15720. 1962. | |
| Galurus | Galurus Sprengel, Anleit. Kenntn. Gew., ed. 2. 2(1): 364. 1817. | TYPE: Galurus spiciflora (Linnaeus) Sprengel (Caturus spiciflora Linnaeus) = Caturus Linnaeus 1767. | |
| Gymnalypha | Gymnalypha Grisebach, Bonplandia (Hannover) 6: 2. 1858. | TYPE: Gymnalypha jacquinii Grisebach, nom. illegit. (Acalypha villosa Jacquin) | |
| Linostachys | Linostachys Klotzsch ex Schlechtendal, Linnaea 19: 235. 1846. | TYPE: Linostachys padifolia Schlechtendal | |
| Mercuriastrum | Mercuriastrum Heister ex Fabricius, Enum. 202. 1759. | TYPE: = Acalypha Linnaeus 1753. | |
| Odonteilema | Odonteilema Turczaninow, Bull. Soc. Imp. Naturalistes Moscou 21: 587. 1848. | TYPE: Odonteilema claussenii Turczaninow | |
| Ricinocarpus | Ricinocarpus Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 615. 1891, non Ricinocarpos Desfontaines 1817. | TYPE: = Acalypha Linnaeus 1753. |