Acalypha californica |
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California acalypha, California copperleaf, heirba del cancer, Pringle threeseed Mercury |
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Habit | Shrubs, 5–10 dm, monoecious. |
Stems | erect, hirsute and stipitate-glandular, becoming glabrate. |
Leaves | persistent or drought-deciduous; petiole 0.5–2.5 cm; blade ovate to cordate, 1–5 × 0.5–4 cm, base truncate to rounded or cordate, margins serrate-crenate, apex acute or obtuse. |
Inflorescences | unisexual and bisexual, axillary and terminal; staminate peduncle 0.3–2.5 cm, fertile portion 1–4 cm; pistillate peduncle 0.4–3 cm, fertile portion 1–3 × 0.8–1.2 cm; bisexual similar to staminate, with 1–3 pistillate bracts near base; allomorphic pistillate flowers absent. |
Pistillate flowers | pistil 3-carpellate; styles multifid or laciniate. |
Capsules | smooth, pubescent and stipitate-glandular. |
Seeds | 1.5–2 mm, minutely pitted. |
Pistillate | bracts loosely arranged (inflorescence axis visible between bracts), 3–6 × 5.5–11 mm, abaxial surface pubescent, sessile- and stipitate-glandular; lobes (8–)10–18, rounded, 1/5 bract length. |
2n | = 20. |
Acalypha californica |
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Phenology | Flowering and fruiting year-round, especially spring and fall. |
Habitat | Arid rocky slopes, desert washes. |
Elevation | 10–1400 m. (0–4600 ft.) |
Distribution |
AZ; CA; Mexico (Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sinaloa, Sonora)
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Discussion | Plants in Arizona and Sonora have been segregated as Acalypha pringlei based on having long nonglandular hairs mixed with shorter hairs on the stem (versus hairs all of one length). This trait appears throughout the range of A. californica and cannot be used to distinguish two species (G. A. Levin 1995). (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 12, p. 165. |
Parent taxa | Euphorbiaceae > Acalypha |
Sibling taxa | |
Synonyms | A. pringlei |
Name authority | Bentham: Bot. Voy. Sulphur, 51. (1844) |
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