Acalypha californica

Bentham

Bot. Voy. Sulphur, 51. 1844.

Common names: California copperleaf
Illustrated
Synonyms: Acalypha pringlei S. Watson
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 12. Treatment on page 165. Mentioned on page 163.

Shrubs, 5–10 dm, monoecious. Stems erect, hirsute and stipitate-glandular, becoming glabrate. Leaves persistent or drought-deciduous; petiole 0.5–2.5 cm; blade ovate to cordate, 1–5 × 0.5–4 cm, base truncate to rounded or cordate, margins serrate-crenate, apex acute or obtuse. Inflorescences unisexual and bisexual, axillary and terminal; staminate peduncle 0.3–2.5 cm, fertile portion 1–4 cm; pistillate peduncle 0.4–3 cm, fertile portion 1–3 × 0.8–1.2 cm; bisexual similar to staminate, with 1–3 pistillate bracts near base; allomorphic pistillate flowers absent. Pistillate bracts loosely arranged (inflorescence axis visible between bracts), 3–6 × 5.5–11 mm, abaxial surface pubescent, sessile and stipitate-glandular; lobes (8–) 10–18, rounded, 1/5 bract length. Pistillate flowers: pistil 3-carpellate; styles multifid or laciniate. Capsules smooth, pubescent and stipitate-glandular. Seeds 1.5–2 mm, minutely pitted. 2n = 20.


Phenology: Flowering and fruiting year-round, especially spring and fall.
Habitat: Arid rocky slopes, desert washes.
Elevation: 10–1400 m.

Distribution

V12 542-distribution-map.jpg

Ariz., Calif., Mexico (Baja California), Mexico (Baja California Sur), Mexico (Sinaloa), Mexico (Sonora)

Discussion

Plants in Arizona and Sonora have been segregated as Acalypha pringlei based on having long nonglandular hairs mixed with shorter hairs on the stem (versus hairs all of one length). This trait appears throughout the range of A. californica and cannot be used to distinguish two species (G. A. Levin 1995).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

"elongated" is not a number."connate" is not a number. "distinct" is not a number.

... more about "Acalypha californica"
stipitate-glandular +  and pubescent +
obtuse;acute +
Geoffrey A. Levin +
Bentham +
truncate +  and rounded or cordate +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br />) +
ovate;cordate +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br />) +
pistillate +  and staminate +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br />) +
1 +  and 3 +
0.55 cm5.5 mm <br />0.0055 m <br /> (?) +  and 1.1 cm11 mm <br />0.011 m <br /> (?) +
thread-like +
stipitate-glandular +  and pubescent +
California copperleaf +
Ariz. +, Calif. +, Mexico (Baja California) +, Mexico (Baja California Sur) +, Mexico (Sinaloa) +  and Mexico (Sonora) +
10–1400 m. +
Arid rocky slopes, desert washes. +
bisexual +  and unisexual +
drought-deciduous +  and persistent +
rounded +
palmate +  and pinnate +
dentate +, serrate +  and entire +
serrate-crenate +
allomorphic +, pistillate +  and staminate +
pistillate +  and staminate +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br />) +
connate;distinct +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (2.5 cm25 mm <br />0.025 m <br />) +
Flowering and fruiting year-round, especially spring and fall. +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br />) +
bisexual +  and fertile +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br />) +
0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br /> (1.2 cm12 mm <br />0.012 m <br />) +
Bot. Voy. Sulphur, +
ellipsoid +  and subglobose +
0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br /> (0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 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 />) +
Illustrated +
glabrate +, stipitate-glandular +  and hirsute +
deciduous +  and persistent +
connate +  and distinct +
laciniate +  and multifid +
Acalypha pringlei +
Acalypha californica +
Acalypha +
species +
spikelike +
perennial +  and annual +