Acalypha phleoides
Acalypha gracilens
shrubby copperleaf
slender copperleaf, slender three-seed-Mercury
erect, short-pubescent and hirsute.
erect, pubescent.
petiole 0.2–1 cm;
blade rhombic-ovate to ovate, or proximal suborbiculate, 2–6 × 1–3 cm, base acute to rounded, margins serrate to crenate-serrate, apex acute to acuminate.
petiole 0.2–1.2(–1.8) cm;
blade oblong-lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, 1.7–6 × 0.4–2 cm, base cuneate, margins serrate to crenate to subentire, apex obtuse to acute.
bisexual, terminal;
peduncle 0.3–0.5(–1) cm, pistillate portion 4–7 × 1.6–2 cm, staminate portion 0.5–3.5 cm;
allomorphic pistillate flowers rarely present, replacing all or part of staminate portion of inflorescence.
bisexual, axillary;
peduncle 0.1–0.6 cm, pistillate portion 0.7–1.3 × 0.8–1.5 cm or pistillate bract solitary, staminate portion 0.2–2.6 cm;
allomorphic pistillate flowers absent.
of allomorphic flowers 3–5 mm.
pistil 3-carpellate (normal flowers), 2-carpellate (allomorphic flowers);
styles multifid or laciniate.
pistil 3-carpellate;
styles multifid or laciniate.
muricate, pubescent;
allomorphic fruits obovoid, 2 × 1.5 mm, muricate, pubescent.
smooth, pubescent.
1.5–2 mm, minutely pitted.
1.1–1.9 mm, minutely pitted.
bracts (normal flowers) loosely arranged (inflorescence axis visible between bracts), 8–12 × 7–11 mm, abaxial surface sparsely pubescent and stipitate-glandular;
lobes (3–)5–7(–8), triangular to attenuate, 1/5–1/3 bract length or terminal lobe longer; of allomorphic flowers absent.
bracts loosely arranged to crowded (inflorescence axis clearly to scarcely visible between bracts) or solitary, 8–14 × 11–17 mm, abaxial surface sparsely pubescent, red sessile-glandular, and sometimes stipitate-glandular;
lobes (7–)9–13(–15), deltate, 1/10–1/4 bract length.
= 40 (Mexico).
Acalypha phleoides
Acalypha gracilens
Plants from the United States have nearly always been called Acalypha lindheimeri, distinguished from A. phleoides on the basis of leaf shape and bract lobing. Although plants from Texas generally can be distinguished from plants from central Mexico southward, plants from intervening regions in the United States and Mexico include a full range of intermediates (G. A. Levin 1999b).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Acalypha gracilens varies considerably throughout its range; some of the extremes have been named. The variation shows no discrete breaks and no infraspecific taxa warrant recognition (G. A. Levin 1999). Populations in central Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa have been alleged to be introduced, but they show slight morphological differences from other populations and appear to be native. Acalypha gracilens is introduced in Wisconsin. See 16. A. virginica for a discussion of the differences between A. gracilens and that species.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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