Acalypha deamii

(Weatherby) H. E. Ahles in G. N. Jones and G. D. Fuller

Vasc. Pl. Illinois, 301. 1955.

Common names: Largeseeded mercury Deam’s threeseeded mercury
Endemic
Basionym: Acalypha virginica var. deamii Weatherby Rhodora 29: 197. 1927
Synonyms: A. rhomboidea var. deamii (Weatherby) Weatherby
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 12. Treatment on page 170. Mentioned on page 164.

Herbs, annual, 3–7 dm, monoecious. Stems erect, glabrate. Leaves: petiole 2.5–7 cm; blade ovate to broadly rhombic, 4–12 × 2–7 cm, base obtuse, margins serrate, apex acute to acuminate. Inflorescences bisexual, axillary; peduncle 0.1–0.6 cm, pistillate portion 0.8–1.5 × 1–2 cm or pistillate bract solitary, staminate portion 0.3–0.7 cm; allomorphic pistillate flowers common, solitary in axils near base of stem. Pistillate bracts (normal flowers) loosely arranged to crowded (inflorescence axis clearly to scarcely visible between bracts) or solitary, 8–16 × 11–20 mm, abaxial surface sparsely pubescent and usually stipitate-glandular; lobes (5–) 7–9, lanceolate to narrowly oblong, 1/2–3/4 bract length; of allomorphic flowers absent. Pedicels of allomorphic flowers rudimentary. Pistillate flowers: pistil 2-carpellate (normal flowers), 1-carpellate (allomorphic flowers); styles multifid or laciniate. Capsules smooth, pubescent; allomorphic fruits obovoid, 2.5–3 × 1.8–2 mm, spiny, pubescent. Seeds 2.4–3.2 mm, shallowly pitted.


Phenology: Flowering and fruiting late summer–fall.
Habitat: Moist bottomland woods, near streams or rivers, rarely in moist upland forests.
Elevation: 100–400 m.

Distribution

V12 287-distribution-map.jpg

Ala., Ark., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., Md., Mo., Ohio, Pa., Tenn., Va., W.Va.

Discussion

Acalypha deamii strongly resembles robust individuals of A. rhomboidea but is generally restricted to moist bottomland woods. Some accounts state that the leaves of A. deamii droop; this characteristic is not consistent and cannot be used for identification.

The distribution of Acalypha deamii is probably not as patchy as collections suggest. It is frequently overlooked because it looks so much like the widespread and abundant A. rhomboidea and is difficult to recognize until fruits mature. Collections may also be limited because A. deamii shares its habitat with stinging nettles.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

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

... more about "Acalypha deamii"
stipitate-glandular +  and pubescent +
acute;acuminate +
Geoffrey A. Levin +
(Weatherby) H. E. Ahles in G. N. Jones and G. D. Fuller +
Acalypha virginica var. deamii +
4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br /> (12 cm120 mm <br />0.12 m <br />) +
ovate;broadly rhombic +
2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br /> (7 cm70 mm <br />0.07 m <br />) +
loosely arranged +  and crowded or solitary +
0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br /> (1.6 cm16 mm <br />0.016 m <br />) +
1.1 cm11 mm <br />0.011 m <br /> (?) +  and 2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br /> (?) +
thread-like +
Largeseeded mercury +  and Deam’s threeseeded mercury +
Ala. +, Ark. +, Ill. +, Ind. +, Iowa +, Kans. +, Ky. +, Md. +, Mo. +, Ohio +, Pa. +, Tenn. +, Va. +  and W.Va. +
100–400 m. +
0.25 cm2.5 mm <br />0.0025 m <br /> (?) +  and 0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (?) +
obovoid +
0.18 cm1.8 mm <br />0.0018 m <br /> (?) +  and 0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (?) +
Moist bottomland woods, near streams or rivers, rarely in moist upland forests. +
drought-deciduous +  and persistent +
lanceolate;narrowly oblong +
palmate +  and pinnate +
crenate +  and subentire +
allomorphic +, pistillate +  and staminate +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br />) +
connate;distinct +
2.5 cm25 mm <br />0.025 m <br /> (7 cm70 mm <br />0.07 m <br />) +
Flowering and fruiting late summer–fall. +
1-carpellate +  and 2-carpellate +
staminate +  and pistillate +
0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br /> (1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br />) +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 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 />) +
Vasc. Pl. Illinois, +
ellipsoid +  and subglobose +
0.24 cm2.4 mm <br />0.0024 m <br /> (0.32 cm3.2 mm <br />0.0032 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 />) +
deciduous +  and persistent +
connate +  and distinct +
laciniate +  and multifid +
A. rhomboidea var. deamii +
Acalypha deamii +
Acalypha +
species +
spikelike +