红尾铁苋 Acalypha chamaedrifolia

  • Scientific Name: Acalypha chamaedrifolia (Lam.) Müll.Arg.
  • Ref: A.P.de Candolle, Prodr. 15(2):879. 1866
  • Synonyms: Acalypha adscendens Hornem.; A. corchorifolia Willd.; A. hispaniolae Urb.; A. hotteana Urb.; A. reptans Sw.; Croton chamaedrifolius Lam.; Cupamenis chamedrifolia (Lam.) Raf.; C. reptans (Sw.) Raf.; Geiseleria chamaedryfolia (Lam.) Klotzsch; Ricinocarpus chamaedrifolius (Lam.) Kuntze
  • English Common Name: bastard copperleaf
  • Chinese Common Name: 红尾铁苋 hóngwěi tiěxiàn, 猫尾红 māowěi∙hóng
  • Japanese Common Name: キャッツテール (cat’s tail) kyattsuteiru
  • Family: Euphorbiaceae
  • Genus: Acalypha
  • Distribution: Rocky pine woods, disturbed areas; 0–10 m; S. Florida and West Indies.
  • Photo: 06/21/2009, South China Botanical Garden, Guangdong
  • Note: not to be confused with 红穗铁苋 Acalypha hispida
Herbs, perennial, 1–2.5 dm, monoecious. Stems prostrate to ascending, pubescent. 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. 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. 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. Pistillate flowers: pistil 3-carpellate; styles multifid or laciniate. Capsules smooth, pubescent. Seeds 1.2–1.4 mm, minutely pitted. (FNA Vol. 12)

Leave a comment