Acalypha arvensis
Acalypha australis
field copperleaf
Asian copperleaf
erect to ascending, short-pubescent and densely [sparsely] hirsute.
erect, densely to sparsely pilose.
petiole 0.5–4 cm, not stipitate-glandular;
blade rhombic-ovate to rhombic-lanceolate, 2–9(–12) × 1.2–5(–6.5) cm, base cuneate to rounded, margins serrate, apex obtuse to acute.
petiole 0.5–4 cm;
blade ovate to broadly lanceolate, 2–8 × 1.5–4 cm, base cuneate to obtuse, margins serrate, apex acute to short-acuminate.
unisexual or bisexual, axillary;
staminate peduncle 0.3–2.5 cm, not stipitate-glandular, fertile portion 1.5–3[–6] cm;
pistillate peduncle 0.4–3 cm, not stipitate-glandular, fertile portion 2.5–4[–8] × 1–2 cm;
bisexual similar to pistillate, with staminate portion 0.4–0.7 cm;
allomorphic pistillate flowers common, terminal on pistillate and bisexual inflorescences.
bisexual, axillary;
peduncle 0.5–4(–6) cm, pistillate portion 1–2 × 1.5–2.5 cm or pistillate bract solitary, staminate portion 0.5–3 cm;
allomorphic pistillate flowers rare, when present replacing staminate part of inflorescence.
of allomorphic flowers rudimentary if borne above staminate flowers or 10–18 mm if borne above normal pistillate flowers.
of allomorphic flowers rudimentary.
pistil 3-carpellate (normal flowers), (1–)2-carpellate (allomorphic flowers);
styles multifid or laciniate.
pistil 3-carpellate (normal flowers), 2-carpellate (allomorphic flowers);
styles multifid or laciniate.
smooth, hispidulous;
allomorphic fruits ovoid, 1.5–1.6 × 1.2–1.3 mm, muricate, sparsely to densely puberulent.
muricate, pubescent;
allomorphic fruits obovoid, 2 × 1.2 mm, muricate, pubescent.
1.1–1.5 mm, minutely pitted.
1.5–1.8 mm, minutely pitted.
bracts (normal flowers) very densely crowded (inflorescence axis not visible between bracts), 6–12 × 4–6 mm, abaxial surface long-hirsute (hairs to 2 mm) and stipitate-glandular;
lobes 3–7, proximally deltate with linear tips, 1/2–2/3 bract length, smooth; of allomorphic flowers absent.
bracts (normal flowers) loosely arranged (inflorescence axis visible between bracts) or solitary, 10–15(–20) × 8–12 mm, abaxial surface sparsely pubescent;
lobes 12–15, rounded, 1/20 bract length; of allomorphic flowers absent.
Acalypha arvensis
Acalypha australis
Acalypha arvensis became established in the United States in the 1980s and is now known from scattered localities throughout peninsular Florida. Some recent literature misapplies A. aristata Kunth to this species, but that name is a synonym of A. alopecuroidea.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Acalypha australis, native to eastern Asia, became established in metropolitan New York City in the 1980s. It was also collected once in 1900 in Oregon (Suksdorf 2892, GH), and apparently has not persisted there.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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