Group:
1 Angiosperms (Flowering Plants) - I - Dicotyledons
Family:
Euphorbiaceae
Genus:
Acalypha
Common sinhala name:
Habit:
Herb
Origin:
N
National conservation status:
LC - Least Concern
Legal status:
Similar species:
All vernacular names:
Annual herb. 40-75 cm tall, erect, slender. Stems only occasionally branched, finely white pilose to subglabrous. Leaves long-petiolate, lamina 20-55 x 9-35 mm, ovate to elliptic-ovate, broadly cuneate to rounded at base, caudate-acuminate at apex, crenate-serrate, thin, 3—5-veined at base, median vein pinnately divided, minutely verrucose on both surfaces, short pilose on major veins, especially beneath, ciliate; petiole up to 35-40 mm long or even longer, frequently exceeding the lamina, pilose. Stipules c. 2 mm long, filiform. Inflorescence spicate, androgynous, axillary, up to 25 mm long. sessile. Male flowers minute, sessile, few at end of inflorescence; female flowers several, crowded at base of spike, bracts 5-6 X 6-9 mm, finely slender stipitate-glandular, fimbriate toothed, teeth 2—3.5 mm long, narrowly lanceolate to subulate, very finely ciliate. Ovary sparsely pubescent. Style very slender, glabrous. Fruit white, cocci glabrous, becoming twisted after dehiscence. Seed c 1.5 x 1 mm, brown, globose-ovoid. (FOC)