Acalypha deamii
Acalypha ostryifolia
Deam's threeseed Mercury, largeseed Mercury
hophornbeam copperleaf, pineland threeseed Mercury
erect, glabrate.
erect, pubescent, sparsely hirsute, and stipitate-glandular.
petiole 2.5–7 cm;
blade ovate to broadly rhombic, 4–12 × 2–7 cm, base obtuse, margins serrate, apex acute to acuminate.
petiole 1.5–6.5 cm;
blade ovate, 3–8 × 1.5–5 cm, base cordate, margins serrate, apex acute to short acuminate.
bisexual, axillary;
peduncle 0.1–0.6 cm, pistillate portion 0.8–1.5 × 1–2 cm or pistillate bract solitary, staminate portion 0.3–0.7 cm;
allomorphic pistillate flowers common, solitary in axils near base of stem.
unisexual, axillary (staminate) and terminal (pistillate; sometimes on short lateral branches, appearing axillary);
staminate peduncle 0.5–1.5 cm, fertile portion 0.5–3.5 cm;
pistillate peduncle 0.1–1 cm, fertile portion 3–7 × 0.7–1 cm;
allomorphic pistillate flowers common, near apices of pistillate inflorescences.
of allomorphic flowers rudimentary.
of allomorphic flowers rudimentary.
pistil 2-carpellate (normal flowers), 1-carpellate (allomorphic flowers);
styles multifid or laciniate.
pistil 3-carpellate (normal flowers), 1(–3)-carpellate (allomorphic flowers);
styles multifid or laciniate.
smooth, pubescent;
allomorphic fruits obovoid, 2.5–3 × 1.8–2 mm, spiny, pubescent.
spiny, pubescent;
allomorphic fruits obovoid, 2 irregular flanges near apex, 2–2.2 × 1.6–1.8 mm, smooth, pubescent.
2.4–3.2 mm, shallowly pitted.
1.6–2 mm, tuberculate.
bracts (normal flowers) loosely arranged to crowded (inflorescence axis clearly to scarcely visible between bracts) or solitary, 8–16 × 11–20 mm, abaxial surface sparsely pubescent and usually stipitate-glandular;
lobes (5–)7–9, lanceolate to narrowly oblong, 1/2–3/4 bract length; of allomorphic flowers absent.
bracts (normal and allomorphic flowers) loosely arranged (inflorescence axis visible between bracts), 3–6 × 6–8 mm, abaxial surface pubescent (hairs to 0.3 mm) and sparsely stipitate-glandular;
lobes (9–)13–17, linear, 2/3 bract length, muricate.
Acalypha deamii
Acalypha ostryifolia
Acalypha deamii strongly resembles robust individuals of A. rhomboidea but is generally restricted to moist bottomland woods. Some accounts state that the leaves of A. deamii droop; this characteristic is not consistent and cannot be used for identification.
The distribution of Acalypha deamii is probably not as patchy as collections suggest. It is frequently overlooked because it looks so much like the widespread and abundant A. rhomboidea and is difficult to recognize until fruits mature. Collections may also be limited because A. deamii shares its habitat with stinging nettles.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
J. Torrey [in W. H. Emory 1857–1859, vol. 2(1)] reported Acalypha ostryifolia (as A. caroliniana Elliott) from New Mexico on the basis of Bigelow s.n., collected near "the Copper Mines" in Grant County. Although no specimen has been located by the author and this is the only report of this species from New Mexico, it is to be expected in the southwestern part of the state. It was collected in the late nineteenth century in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, but has not been collected there since.
Acalypha ostryifolia may not be native to the northern part of its range. Specimen collection dates suggest that the species is spreading northward, and in much of its range it is found primarily in areas with human disturbance.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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