Flora of North America species comparison

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Acalypha chamaedrifolia

Acalypha arvensis

bastard copperleaf, Everglades copperleaf

field copperleaf
Habit Herbs, perennial, 1–2.5 dm, monoecious. Herbs, annual, 2–8 dm, monoecious.
Stems

prostrate to ascending, pubescent.

erect to ascending, short-pubescent and densely [sparsely] hirsute.
Leaves

petiole 0.1–0.5 cm;

blade ovate to orbiculate, 0.3–2.1 × 0.3–1.2 cm, base cordate or rounded, margins serrate-crenate, apex obtuse or acute.

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.
Inflorescences

bisexual, terminal;

peduncle 0.2–1 cm, pistillate portion 1.5–3 × 1–1.5 cm, staminate portion 0.8–2.5 cm;

allomorphic pistillate flowers absent.

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.
Pedicels

of allomorphic flowers rudimentary if borne above staminate flowers or 10–18 mm if borne above normal pistillate flowers.
Pistillate flowers

pistil 3-carpellate;

styles multifid or laciniate.

pistil 3-carpellate (normal flowers), (1–)2-carpellate (allomorphic flowers);

styles multifid or laciniate.
Capsules

smooth, pubescent.

smooth, hispidulous;

allomorphic fruits ovoid, 1.5–1.6 × 1.2–1.3 mm, muricate, sparsely to densely puberulent.
Seeds

1.2–1.4 mm, minutely pitted.

1.1–1.5 mm, minutely pitted.
Pistillate

bracts crowded (inflorescence axis not or sparingly visible between bracts), 4–6 × 7–10 mm, abaxial surface pubescent and sessile-glandular;

lobes (7–)10–13, deltate to triangular, 1/5 bract length.

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.

Acalypha chamaedrifolia

Acalypha arvensis
Phenology Flowering and fruiting year-round, mainly spring–fall. Flowering and fruiting summer–fall.
Habitat Rocky pine woods, disturbed areas. Disturbed areas.
Elevation 0–10 m. (0–0 ft.) 10–50 m. (0–200 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
FL; West Indies
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
FL; Mexico; Central America; West Indies; n South America; c South America [Introduced in North America]
Discussion

In the flora area, Acalypa chamaedrifolia is native to Miami-Dade and Monroe counties but has been sparingly, and apparently accidentally, introduced farther north.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

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.)
Source FNA vol. 12, p. 166. FNA vol. 12, p. 167.
Parent taxa Euphorbiaceae > Acalypha Euphorbiaceae > Acalypha
Sibling taxa
A. alopecuroidea, A. arvensis, A. australis, A. californica, A. deamii, A. gracilens, A. monococca, A. monostachya, A. neomexicana, A. ostryifolia, A. phleoides, A. poiretii, A. radians, A. rhomboidea, A. setosa, A. virginica, A. wilkesiana
A. alopecuroidea, A. australis, A. californica, A. chamaedrifolia, A. deamii, A. gracilens, A. monococca, A. monostachya, A. neomexicana, A. ostryifolia, A. phleoides, A. poiretii, A. radians, A. rhomboidea, A. setosa, A. virginica, A. wilkesiana
Synonyms Croton chamaedryfolius
Name authority (Lamarck) Müller Arg.: in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 15(2): 879. (1866) Poeppig: in E. F. Poeppig and S. L. Endlicher, Nov. Gen. Sp. Pl. 3: 21. (1841)
Web links 
Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from the online version of the Flora of North America, who have made most of their content available via a Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0).



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