Acalypha

Acalypha
Chenille plant (Acalypha hispida)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Subfamily: Acalyphoideae
Tribe: Acalypheae
Subtribe: Acalyphinae
Genus: Acalypha
L.
Species

450-462, see text

Synonyms
Acalypha capitata
Firetail Chenille Plant, Acalypha pendula
Acalypha fruticosa
Acalypha cuneata
Acalypha indica

Acalypha is a genus of flowering plants in the family Euphorbiaceae. It is the sole genus of the subtribe Acalyphinae. It is one of the largest euphorb genera, with approximately 450 to 462 species.[1][2][3] The genus name Acalypha is from the Ancient Greek ἀκαλύφη (akalúphē) ("nettle"), an alternative form of ἀκαλήφη (akalḗphē),[4] and was inspired by the nettle-like leaves.[5] General common names include copperleaf[6] and three-seeded mercury. Native North American species are generally inconspicuous most of the year until the fall when their stems and foliage turn a distinctive coppery-red.

The genus is distributed mainly in the tropics and subtropics, with about 60% of species native to the Americas and about 30% in Africa.[7]

  1. ^ Qin, Xin-Sheng; Ye, Yu-Shi; Xing, Fu-Wu; Ye, Hua-Gu (2006). "Acalypha chuniana (Euphorbiaceae), a new species from Hainan Province, China". Annales Botanici Fennici. 43 (2): 148–151. JSTOR 23727200. Archived from the original on 2018-08-04. Retrieved 2018-08-04.
  2. ^ Sagun, V. G.; Levin, G. A. (2007). "Four new species of Acalypha (Euphorbiaceae) from Malesia". Blumea. 52 (2): 351–59. doi:10.3767/000651907X609098.
  3. ^ Steinmann, V. W.; Levin, G. A. (2011). "Acalypha herzogiana (Euphorbiaceae), the correct name for an intriguing and commonly cultivated species". Brittonia. 63 (4): 500–04. doi:10.1007/s12228-011-9181-5. S2CID 22238248.
  4. ^ Charters, M. L. "Acalypha". California Plant Names: Latin and Greek Meanings and Derivations. Archived from the original on 2013-12-14. Retrieved 2013-08-31.
  5. ^ "Acalypha". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
  6. ^ "Acalypha". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
  7. ^ Duman, H.; Terzioglu, S. (2009). "Acalypha (Euphorbiaceae): a new genus record for Turkey" (PDF). Phytologia Balcanica. 15 (2): 171–73. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-04-19. Retrieved 2013-08-31.