Acalypha arvensis

Poeppig in E. F. Poeppig and S. L. Endlicher

Nov. Gen. Sp. Pl. 3: 21. 1841.

Common names: Field copperleaf
Introduced
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 12. Treatment on page 167. Mentioned on page 164.

Herbs, annual, 2–8 dm, monoecious. Stems erect to ascending, short-pubescent and densely [sparsely] hirsute. Leaves: 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 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. Pistillate 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. 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 (normal flowers), (1–) 2-carpellate (allomorphic flowers); styles multifid or laciniate. Capsules smooth, hispidulous; allomorphic fruits ovoid, 1.5–1.6 × 1.2–1.3 mm, muricate, sparsely to densely puberulent. Seeds 1.1–1.5 mm, minutely pitted.


Phenology: Flowering and fruiting summer–fall.
Habitat: Disturbed areas.
Elevation: 10–50 m.

Distribution

V12 462-distribution-map.jpg

Introduced; Fla., Mexico, West Indies, Central America, n, c South America

Discussion

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.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

"elongated" is not a number.No values specified."connate" is not a number. "distinct" is not a number.

... more about "Acalypha arvensis"
stipitate-glandular +  and long-hirsute +
obtuse;acute +
Geoffrey A. Levin +
Poeppig in E. F. Poeppig and S. L. Endlicher +
cuneate +  and rounded +
9 cm90 mm <br />0.09 m <br /> (12 cm120 mm <br />0.12 m <br />) +
5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br /> (6.5 cm65 mm <br />0.065 m <br />) +
2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br /> (9 cm90 mm <br />0.09 m <br />) +
rhombic-ovate;rhombic-lanceolate +
1.2 cm12 mm <br />0.012 m <br /> (5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br />) +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (?) +  and 0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br /> (?) +
thread-like +
Field copperleaf +
Fla. +, Mexico +, West Indies +, Central America +, n +  and c South America +
10–50 m. +
pistillate +  and staminate +
0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br /> (?) +  and 0.16 cm1.6 mm <br />0.0016 m <br /> (?) +
muricate +
0.12 cm1.2 mm <br />0.0012 m <br /> (?) +  and 0.13 cm1.3 mm <br />0.0013 m <br /> (?) +
Disturbed areas. +
bisexual +  and unisexual +
drought-deciduous +  and persistent +
deltate +
palmate +  and pinnate +
crenate +  and subentire +
allomorphic +, pistillate +  and staminate +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (1.8 cm18 mm <br />0.018 m <br />) +
pistillate +  and staminate +
not stipitate-glandular +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br />) +
connate;distinct +
not stipitate-glandular +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br />) +
Flowering and fruiting summer–fall. +
(1-)2-carpellate +  and 3-carpellate +
staminate +  and pistillate +
4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br /> (8 cm80 mm <br />0.08 m <br />) +
3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br /> (6 cm60 mm <br />0.06 m <br />) +
2.5 cm25 mm <br />0.025 m <br /> (4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br />) +
bisexual +  and fertile +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br />) +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br />) +
Nov. Gen. Sp. Pl. +
ellipsoid +  and subglobose +
0.11 cm1.1 mm <br />0.0011 m <br /> (0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br />) +
not petaloid +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
distinct +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br />) +
Introduced +
erect +  and ascending +
hirsute +  and short-pubescent +
deciduous +  and persistent +
connate +  and distinct +
laciniate +  and multifid +
Acalypha arvensis +
Acalypha +
species +
spikelike +